30 Families Resettle in Northern West Bank's Ganim Settlement After 21 Years

After 21 years since their forced evacuation during Israel's disengagement plan, 30 pioneering families have returned to permanently resettle the Ganim community in northern Samaria (West Bank). The reestablishment was marked by a national ceremony attended by government ministers, Knesset members, and public figures, including Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan. Alongside the families, a branch of the Bnei David yeshiva from Ma'aleh Adumim will open in Ganim on the upcoming Sunday.

The resettlement effort is a collaboration between the Shomron Regional Council, the Amana movement, the Settlement Division, and the Settlement Brigade. In preparation, dozens of large Israeli flags were displayed at Ganim's entrance as a symbol of sovereignty and national restoration. The event included participation from key leaders such as Amana Secretary General Ze'ev Hever, rabbis Eli Sadan, Yigal Lewinstein, Yehuda Sadan, and Neria Bulak, who will head the new yeshiva.

The ceremony also honored families displaced from Ganim and the family of Keti Winterov, a resident killed in a shooting attack on her way home. This initiative is part of the Shomron Council's "Connection Plan," which aims to establish 19 new settlements in northern Samaria under the "Million in Shomron" program. The return to Ganim follows the recent ground-breaking of the Emek Dotan settlement, the fifth new community established by the council within a year.

Yossi Dagan described the event as a "historic correction," emphasizing that Ganim will grow tenfold, becoming a major settlement with 1,000 families. Ilan Kutzki, leader of the Ganim group, called the return a pioneering step toward a thriving community by 2026. Resident Moriah Meselti expressed excitement about restoring life, homes, and community to Ganim, framing the day as a moment of revival and homecoming.