New Settlement 'Giv'at Shomron' Established in Northern West Bank

A new settlement, named 'Giv'at Shomron,' is being established in the northern West Bank by a group of families from the Hesder Yeshiva of Ramat Gan. The settlement is located on the site of a former IDF paratrooper training base near Sa-Nur. The initiative follows meetings among involved parties and a site visit attended by Yossi Dagan, Head of the Shomron Regional Council, Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, head of the yeshiva, and dozens of prospective residents.

Dagan stated that the establishment of Giv'at Shomron is part of a broader effort to strengthen Israeli presence in the northern West Bank, aiming to counteract the disengagement from Gaza and the Oslo Accords. He emphasized that new settlements like Giv'at Shomron, alongside others such as Noa and the renewed Homesh, are crucial for reclaiming territory, ensuring security, and connecting the northern West Bank to the Jordan Valley and the rest of Israel. Dagan welcomed the families, calling it a "second chance" for the region.

Rabbi Shapira echoed Dagan's sentiments, highlighting the historical significance of settling the area, which he believes Jews have awaited for thousands of years. He drew parallels to the efforts of the Vilna Gaon to settle the Land of Israel, urging his students to physically build and inhabit the land. Shapira expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to participate in establishing the new settlement, calling it a "tremendous privilege."

The establishment of Giv'at Shomron is part of the "Connection Plan," led by the Shomron Regional Council, the Amana movement, and the Settlement Division. This plan includes the creation of 19 new settlements in the northern West Bank as part of the council's "Million in the Shomron" initiative. The settlement's establishment proceeds following a government and cabinet decision spearheaded by Minister of Defense Israel Katz and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich.