Samaria Regional Council and New York Town Sign Economic and Cultural Cooperation Agreement

The Samaria Regional Council and the town of Great Neck, New York, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Wednesday for economic and cultural cooperation as part of a "sister cities" initiative. The agreement was signed in the Samaria settlement of Yakir, with Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan and Great Neck Mayor Dr. Pedram Barel in attendance. Great Neck, located on Long Island near New York City, is considered one of the wealthiest towns in the United States and is home to a large Jewish community.

The agreement aims to deepen ties between the communities and promote collaboration in economics, trade, and culture. During the signing ceremony, Mayor Barel emphasized the connection between his town's residents and Samaria, stating, "I want you to know that the connection between Jews in the diaspora and Jews in Judea and Samaria will be strong as rock. Nothing will break this connection." It was also revealed that eight families from Great Neck recently immigrated to Israel together and are now considering settling in Samaria.

Yossi Dagan thanked Mayor Barel and the community for their support of Samaria, particularly since the start of the war. "We are family. I want to tell Mayor Pedram Barel and the people of Great Neck how much we appreciate and love you. We remember you and your support for Samaria, especially since the early days of the war. This was not just help, there was a real heart here," Dagan said. He added, "This connection between Samaria and the Jews of the United States, and especially with the community in Great Neck near New York, is a family connection. You are part of Samaria, and we are part of your family. We are together forever, and together we will win."

Mayor Barel also reflected on his visit to Samaria and the region's Jewish history. "Thank you to the people of Samaria and Yossi Dagan. Today we traveled through places where Abraham walked, Jacob dreamed, and Joseph was buried. Shiloh was the capital of Israel for 369 years. Jewish history is here." Barel further stressed the importance of the link between the American Jewish community and Samaria, noting, "We may live outside of Israel, but we have never left this place in our hearts. Great Neck has a large Jewish community, and today we are officially strengthening the connection with Samaria." At the end of the ceremony, Barel presented Dagan with a token of appreciation from Great Neck, marking the connection between the communities and the signing of the agreement.