Thousands of people gathered at the Tomb of Joseph in Shechem Wednesday night for the lighting of the fifth night of Hanukkah. The event was organized by the Shechem Echad (One Shechem) organization, and was attended by many top officials in organizations in Judea and Samaria.
Among those participating were Amana chairman Ze'ev Haver (“Zambish”), David Elchiyani, the chairman of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, Tzviki Bar-Hai, chairman of the Har Hevron Regional Council, Judea and Samaria Council chairman Danny Dayan, Beit El local council head Moshe Rosenblum, Karnei Shomron local council head Herzl Ben-Ari, and others. Lighting the candles was Samaria Council head Gershon Mesika.
Speaking at the event, Mesika said that “the kindling of the lights of Hanukkah here at the Tomb of Joseph is a great event, and they are lighting the darkness, even if we do not see them for many months. Hanukkah is a holiday of great faith, a holiday that symbolizes the settlement of Judea and Samaria by Jews. So there is no better time that Hanukkah to again demand that the government begin renewing mass settlement in the region, and a return of this holy place to Jewish control, even as it should according to the Oslo Accords.”
The event was authorized by the IDF, and Mesika and other speakers thanked the IDF, and particularly Samaria Command head Yoav Yarom, for his help.
