WhatsappThis is unbelievable news and so beautiful to see, Jews returning to an area in our ancestral homeland that was previously removed!!! Watch the overnight operation to reestablish a Jewish presence in the hills of the Shomron.
Back in 2002 I had the privilege of doing my IDF reserve duty in the community of Chomesh in the Shomron/Samaria .
Unfortunately, during the summer of 2005, the Israeli government destroyed 21 Jewish communities in the Gaza strip and 4 communities in Northern Samaria, as part of a plan to try to achieve “peace” with our Arab Muslim neighbors. Chomesh was one of those communities in Northern Samaria that were destroyed, with all the residents expelled from their homes. I was extremely active in protesting and trying to prevent that disastrous policy.
From that point onward, according to Israeli law it was illegal for any Jews to live in that whole area of the Northern Shomron region.
In an effort to try to return, there was a constant campaign to have Torah learning take place up on Hill where the destroyed community of Chomesh once stood. Yeshiva students tried to stay up there and learn Torah, and it was known as the Chomesh Yeshiva.
Unfortunately, since it was illegal according to Israeli law, successive Israeli governments always removed the temporary Yeshiva structures and the Yeshiva students.
It was like a game of cat and mouse.
Yet, as much of Israeli was originally settled, the perseverance paid off.
Finally, last month the Israeli government annuled the law that made it illegal for Jews to settle in the Northern Shomron area and the government gave persmission for the Chomesh Yeshiva to be established on the Hilltop of the destroyed community.
Unfortunately, due to US pressure, the government is still not allowing for permanent housing to be built there, but that day will come. This is the first step in the right direction of the Jewish people resettling the destroyed community of Chomesh.
