The right-wing has already won... it's a place that has been reached and will be reached. The army can't stop them physically.
The ascent to Homesh is on, as the organizers continue to take the initiative in their cat-and-mouse game with the army. Some 60 people made their way to Homesh last night; four were caught by soldiers, but managed to run away.
The organizers of "Homesh First" - the campaign to resettle the Shomron town of Homesh, destroyed during the Disengagement of the summer of 2005 - appear to be on a roll. They widely advertised a mass ascent to the ruins of the town for this past Tuesday - and then abruptly called it off when the army fielded two large regiments to block their way. The organizers announced the cancellation on Tuesday morning, explaining, "With tricks thou shalt make war [Proverbs 24,6]". The large red and black posters blared out, "By Tisha B'Av [this coming Tuesday], we will be in Homesh; announcements will be forthcoming."
A news reporter on Voice of Israel Radio said earlier this week, "The right-wing has already won, in the sense that everyone knows that Homesh is no longer off-limits; it's a place that has been reached and will be reached. The army can't stop them physically."
On Thursday, two new red and black posters were found to have been posted in town centers, synagogues, and other places where potential Homesh marchers could be found. One poster announced a "Shabbat Hazon on the Way to Homesh," with families invited to spend the Sabbath at one of five Homesh-vicinity communities, and the second poster provided the information that the massive march to Homesh would take place on Sunday morning.
In previous marches to Homesh, the security forces did not actively prevent the ascent - knowing that it would be a "mission impossible," given the many hilly areas from which it is possible to approach the area - but did close off the roads. Homesh is therefore accessible only by hardy pioneers willing to walk at least seven kilometers [4.5 miles] each way.
This coming Sabbath, a five-ring Shabbaton will take place in the Shomron: boys are invited to Elon Moreh, Yitzhar, and Shavei Shomron, girls will be hosted in Kedumim, and families are invited to stay with local families in Einav.
In Shavei Shomron, the closest town to Homesh, Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba and Rabbi Yehuda Kroizer, the rabbi of Mitzpeh Yericho, will take part. Slightly to the southeast, in Kedumim, the girls will take part in classes given by Rabbi Gadi Ben-Zimra and others, and will be joined by Limor Sohn.
An original resident of Homesh, Limor saw her first husband, Shuli Har-Melekh, gunned down by Arab terrorists in August 2003 near Maaleh Michmash. Their one-year old baby was not with them at the time, and two months later, she gave birth to a daughter. Limor later remarried, and, in a case of impeccable timing, held a brit milah [ritual circumcision] ceremony for her new eight-day-old son at Homesh itself, during one of the first mass ascents to the site.
"We will gather together this Sabbath in the communities on the road to Homesh," the poster states, "to gather strength and to prepare for the Great Ascent on Sunday at 11 AM and the building of the synagogue in Homesh."
In keeping with the theme of this Sabbath - known as the Sabbath of Vision, in honor of the Biblical portion read aloud before Tisha B'Av, which recounts the "vision of destruction" foreseen by Isaiah - the organizers declare, "We will lift our eyes to the great Jewish vision, as Reb Levy Yitzchak of Berditchev said, 'On the Sabbath of Vision, every Jew is shown the future Holy Temple.'"
Some of the participants are expected to begin making their way to Homesh on Saturday night, but the official march is slated to begin at 11 AM on Sunday. Required equipment includes water, food for 48 hours, a sleeping bag, and Tisha B'Av kinot [elegies] books. In addition, many people will likely be bringing a brick or two, in order to begin the construction of a synagogue at the site; thousands of such bricks have been paid for over the past several weeks in a special campaign run by "Homesh First."
Arutz-7 spoke with chief Homesh organizer Yossi Dagan Thursday morning, but he was unable to provide much information, "because I'm on the way to the police station for questioning... But there's nothing to worry about; they can't break us. We are coming in the name of the Jewish national vision, in the name of G-d and Torah, and 'the eternity of Israel will not deceive.' Nothing can stop me from acting against the terrible folly of the Disengagement/expulsion. What can they do, shoot me? Arrest me? If they do [arrest me], the Homesh First campaign will go forward even more strongly!"
The first ascent to Homesh took place seven months ago, on Chanukah, when 1,000 people evaded army checkpoints and lit holiday candles there. A few months later, shortly before Passover, 3,000 people attempted to settle the site, but were thrown out after three days. A month later, on Independence Day, 20,000 people marched to Homesh, in an event permitted at the last moment by the security forces. On June 12, thousands made their way to Homesh in a government-authorized visit, marking the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the area, and of all of Judea and Samaria.
The Homesh First campaign is supported by a number of organizations, including the Homesh-SaNur Core Group, Komemiyut, Gamla Shall Not Fall Again, Professors for a Strong Israel, Women in Green, HaLev HaYehudi, the Yesha Rabbis Council, and more.
See photo essays from previous marches to Homesh:
Photo essay 1, Photo essay 2, Photo essay 3, Photo essay 4