Homesh
HomeshHomesh First

Is the State of Israel going to reestablish the communities in northern Samaria that were uprooted as part of the 2005 “Disengagement” from Gaza?

The Ministerial Committee on Legislation is expected to approve a bill authored by MK Shuli Mualem-Refaeli (Jewish Home) which calls to repeal the Disengagement Law and allow freedom of movement for Jews in the evicted communities of Homesh, Sa-Nur, Ganim and Kadim.

The bill was signed by coalition chairman MK David Bitan (Likud), who announced several days ago that the prime minister is giving a green light to the approval of the move, together with the head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, who was expelled from Sa-Nur during the Disengagement.

In the explanatory notes to the bill, it is written, "The purpose of the [Disengagement] plan was to lead to a better political, economic, demographic and security situation. Yet today it is clear to all that the Disengagement not only failed to achieve this goal, but in fact caused tremendous damage to the State of Israel in these areas. Despite the expulsion of the residents from northern Samaria, there was no change in the area in terms of the status of the land and the military presence there."

“The Disengagement Law relates to the implementation of the expulsion, the compensation given to the uprooted residents, and also prohibits the entry of Jews into the areas that were evicted, a clause that is still relevant. As of today, the movement of vehicles, trips in the area and access to the areas of the communities that were demolished are prohibited. The bill seeks to revoke the ban, as a necessary step towards the reestablishment of the communities and the return of the expelled residents,” the notes add.

MK Mualem-Refaeli said, "Since the implementation of the Disengagement Plan, the lands of the communities of northern Samaria have remained state land under IDF security responsibility. There was no political or security justification for carrying out the expulsion, and the public understands this very well. Therefore, there is no justification for continuing to prevent the freedom of the movement of Jews in these areas. This law is a preliminary and basic stage for the purpose of a broader move, which is the reestablishment of the communities."

Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, said, "We have waited 11 years, and every minute is superfluous. The time has come to cancel the Disengagement Law everywhere and certainly in northern Samaria where, apart from uprooting people from their homes, nothing has been done. The communities are waiting for their residents to return. The roads, the electricity poles, the steps connecting the communities are all still there. On the other hand, the foolishness has remained as well, and it is time to cancel it.”