In what has become something of a holiday tradition, pioneers and other families will start two new Jewish neighborhoods today in Judea/Samaria, and will strengthen another.
The sites chosen for the new neighborhoods are Reches [Hilltop] Sela - the western hilltop of Har Brachah, near Shechem, and Maalot [Steps] Halhoul, between Hevron/Kiryat Arba and Gush Etzion.
A third site, Reches Migron - a hilltop just outside Migron, in Binyamin - will receive a strong boost of support, with marchers making their way to the spot today. Some of them plan to remain and thus bolster the single family and several singles that have been living there for several months. Migron itself has 43 families, but its growth is being stunted by the government.
Many marchers will make their way to the various points, beginning in the morning hours and continuing throughout the day. Activists in the field said they do not see any attempts by the army to set up blockades or otherwise stop them, and veteran settlement pioneer Daniella Weiss said she does not expect any.
Several families are equipped with supplies and are planning to remain there for as long as possible.
Weiss, the former Mayor of Kedumim, told Arutz-7's Uzi Baruch, "The neighborhood of Shvut Ami, just a few kilometers away from Kedumim, began exactly in this way - as a holiday initiative - and it has now been standing for 13 months. We hope that this is what will be with our three new projects today as well."
Treausre Hunt and Music
The Migron event will feature a treasure hunt beginning at the gas station on the hillside below Migron. Participants will thus become familiar with the hills in the area. In addition, Rabbi Dov Lior of Kiryat Arba and Rabbi David Bouchko of nearby Kokhav Yaakov will be on hand, and Jewish music will be provided by Udi Davidi.
Taking part in the Sela groundbreaking will be Rabbi Yaki Savir of Elon Moreh, Yesha Rabbis Council spokesman Rabbi Yosef Artziel, and Ahuvia Tabenkin, a member of left-wing Kibbutz Ein Harod. Popular Jewish music singer Yirmiyahu will perform.
IDF Cautions
The IDF has released a statement asking the many expected visitors to Judea and Samaria not to rely only on their GPS instruments and to be extra cautious not to enter areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority.