Israel Reestablishes Ganim Settlement in Northern Samaria After 21 Years

On Thursday morning, hundreds gathered to celebrate the official return to the Ganim settlement in northern Samaria, exactly 21 years after its evacuation during the 2005 disengagement plan. The event included families from the original settlement core, government ministers, Knesset members, rabbis, and leaders from the Samaria Regional Council and settler organizations. Among the notable attendees were Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Communications Minister Dr. Shlomo Karhi, MK Yuli Edelstein, and representatives from the Amana settlement movement and the Bnei David Beit Midrash.

The renewed settlement will also host a new branch of the Bnei David Beit Midrash, which will play a central role in strengthening the Jewish presence in northern Samaria. Ganim's reestablishment follows a year after a government cabinet decision led by Ministers Israel Katz and Bezalel Smotrich, as part of the "Connection Plan" to establish 19 new settlements in northern Samaria and the broader "Million in Samaria" initiative aiming to bring one million residents to the region.

Yossi Dagan described the return as a historic correction, emphasizing the shift from uprooting to growth and Zionist development. Defense Minister Israel Katz highlighted the strategic importance of Ganim alongside other settlements like Emek Dotan and Sha-Nur, linking settlement expansion to security and counterterrorism efforts. Communications Minister Karhi stressed the symbolic and practical significance of reclaiming the land and expanding infrastructure.

MK Yuli Edelstein, a key figure in repealing the disengagement law in northern Samaria, called the renewed settlement a victory over Israel's enemies and reaffirmed his commitment to preventing the establishment of a Palestinian state. The event also featured remarks from rabbis and community leaders who underscored the spiritual and national importance of the return, with the Bnei David yeshiva branch serving as a focal point for Torah study and community building.

The reestablishment of Ganim marks the culmination of a 21-year struggle led by Yossi Dagan and allied settler groups to overturn the disengagement and restore Jewish communities uprooted in 2005. The settlement is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with aspirations to become a major community in the region.