Israeli Settlers Reestablish Ganim Settlement in Northern Samaria After 21 Years

Twenty-one years after the evacuation of settlements in northern Samaria, families from the Ganim core group returned this Thursday to reestablish the settlement following the Israeli cabinet's decision to legalize dozens of settlements. Dozens of caravans were set up to house the families, alongside a branch of the "Bnei David" institutions established there. Along with Ganim, the settlements of Homesh and Sha-Nur have also been resettled, and the Kadim settlement is expected to be reestablished soon, completing the reversal of the disengagement from northern Samaria.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees the regulation of Ganim, stated, "Twenty-one years after the terrible sin of expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Samaria, we are finally erasing the disgrace of the expulsion from northern Samaria." He thanked religious leaders and partners involved in the resettlement effort. Smotrich also announced plans to establish 11 new settlements in northern Samaria this summer, increasing the total from four to 18 settlements, including Homesh, Sha-Nur, Ganim, and Kadim.

Smotrich emphasized the security significance of the return to Ganim, describing Samaria as an integral part of Israel and a security belt for the country. He linked the presence in Samaria to the security of various Israeli cities and declared that this move strengthens Israel's security and rejects the idea of a Palestinian state. He criticized the previous government coalition, warning that it would evacuate the new settlements and return to the Oslo process, which he called dangerous.

The resettlement occurs amid tensions following a settler-imposed blockade on the Palestinian village of Kusra over the past four days. This incident drew international criticism and anger from the Trump administration, which demanded clarifications from Israel. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog labeled the rioters as "Israeli terrorists."