In 2005, a massive plan was underway. Under the premier of Ariel Sharon, Israel planned the Disengagement, an initiative where Israel would unilaterally withdraw from all settlements within the Gaza region, mostly concentrated in the southern region of the strip known as Gush Katif. The reason was quite simple. In a densely populated Palestinian region, where the population was expected to double within a generation, the few Jews in the Gaza region were greatly outnumbered. Despite a desire to hold onto Gaza and one day annex the region to the existing Jewish State, this idea wasn’t compatible with the current situation. In short, the motivation to withdraw was mainly demographic, with some international pressure and security reasons as well.
Eighteen years ago, at least compared to today, there was significantly more hope of a future Palestinian State. Around the year 2000, with the Camp David Accords, several plans were introduced for the creation of a Palestinian State, and all denied by Arafat. Now with Arafat passed away, there was still and some would even say greater hope of a Palestinian State, maybe with a different leader for the Palestinian people. Furthermore, while no plan was suggested in 2005 while the Disengagement from Gaza was taking place, an idea was still present in everyone’s mind: create areas of contiguity where a future Palestinian State can one day reside.
The most clear region become Gaza. There was now a contiguous strip of land where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lived. The other region to look to was the West Bank, but not the entire region. What’s important to understand about the West Bank is that already by 2005, there were regions of well populated, highly developed Jewish Settlements. Let’s take Ariel, Maale Adumim, and Gush Etzion for example. These three settlements, despite residing past the green line, are well established places that are simply not going anywhere. They are areas with many Jews, much development, and no matter what, these places will always be considered as part of the Jewish State.
However, like I mentioned earlier, finding areas of Palestinian contiguity was extremely important for any future peace and coexistence. Therefore, in addition to the Gazan settlements, Israel also decided to unilaterally withdraw from four settlements in the West Bank: Kadim, Ganim, Sa-Nur, and Homesh. These four settlements were situated between the major cities of Nablus and Jenin, a region that was overwhelmingly Palestinian, with little Jewish presence. These settlements were less developed than those in Gush Etzion for example, and it was understood that a center of any future Palestinian State would reside between these two major cities. Therefore, although no plans were in place for a Palestinian State, these settlements were dismantled and sat empty.
Jump forward eighteen years, and Benjamin Netanyahu returns to power with the most right-wing government in Israel’s history. A government filled with extremists such as Betzalel Smotrish and Itamar Ben Gvir, and a government that seems to have no boundaries when it comes to the power they believe they have. In addition to the judicial reform, the plan of creating Ben Gvirs militia, and many other things, this government gave permission to a few small group of people. After 18 years of the settlement of Homesh sitting empty, this government gave the okay for Jews to once again return to this hill surrounded by Palestinians.
Situated northwest of the major city of Nablus, sits this hill with a ruined Jewish settlement on top. On one side of the hill sits the Palestinian village of Burqa, and on the other side Silat ad-Dhahr. Surrounding these villages are many other villages, exclusively Palestinian, with the closest Jewish settlement being Shavei Shomron a good 15 minutes south. Eighteen years ago there were buildings and some infrastructure on this hill, but since then there has been nothing. This never was a complete and developed settlement like those that are well known, rather it was a place for some Jews to reside and state their claim to the land.
*View from Homesh overlooking Nablus in the distance and Burqa up close
About 2.5 months ago, this government allowed Jews to once again return, and these Jews got to work. They quickly transferred one official building to the hill, a building that has become their Beit Midrash, where they spend most of the day praying and studying. One month ago they built electricity poles and brought some life to the hill. They constructed this dirt road, suffice for two cars, and continue planting plants to turn the hill more into a beautiful home.
As far as sleeping arrangements are concerned, they sleep either in tents, or simply outside. Yes, there are a handful of these settlers that sleep outside every night, hanging their clothes on the tree branches, as if making that their closet. These tents aren’t the type you’ll take on a camping trip, they are a bit bigger and more permanent, but still considered as tents.
*Tents where these Jews sleep
As far as security is concerned, this is where it gets interesting and where I come in. Unlike an established settlement, such as those around Hebron, Homesh has no security infrastructure. Kiryat Arba, the settlement next to Hebron, has a fence surrounding its entire perimeter, with cameras and sensors that detect any contact on the fence, even as light as an animal waking into the fence. The settlement has soldiers and residents of the settlement patrolling the perimeter making sure no one enters, and there is always a team ready to jump to any emergency. Homesh has no fence. At any moment a Palestinian from a neighboring village can climb the hill without being noticed by a soldier or resident, and enter the Jews’ tent in the middle of the night. These Jews don’t carry guns to protect themselves like the Jews of Hebron, so a Palestinian who makes it that far has nothing to stop them. The only thing stopping a terrorist infiltration is us soldiers, and especially during the night, we cannot cover the entire area.
These Jews believe that this is their right to be on this land, claiming that this is part of the heart of Israel, the heart of eretz yisrael. They believe that their Torah study is suffice to create the connection with G-d to protect them, and unlike the settlers of many bigger settlements in the West Bank, these Jews aren’t satisfied with the presence of the IDF because we limit their ability to act as they will. My dad sent me an article from June 4th where settlers from this outpost entered the neighboring village of Burqa with masks on their face, and began attacking Palestinians. An act completely incited and started by these Jews, and one they could have carried out even stronger if an IDF presence didn’t exist.
The IDF, aka me, have only been here since the return of Jews to this hill. Therefore, as one can imagine, the conditions we had this week were simply horrendous. There was no bathroom or running water. A huge tank was brought in to solve the water problem, and nature was my solution to the bathroom situation. There was no kitchen, so food was brought in from a different base, and there was horrible cellular connection at most parts of the hill. Thankfully they brought electricity so we enjoyed a place to charge our phones, lights, and most importantly air conditioning in the rooms, rooms that are just repurposed old shipping containers.
Whereas Hebron might be the home of the crazy Jews, Homesh is the home of the extreme Jews. These Jews live in horrible conditions with security threats all around, for the simply fact of saying that this land is there’s and nobody else’s. These Jews only moved here because of this current governments approval, and with the way the country is heading, I won’t be surprised if other Jewish settlements are soon approved in this region as well, inhibiting the ability of any Palestinian contiguity in this region. After a week on this hill, I can assuredly say that I’ve seen the stereotypical settler, Jews physically settling a new area and slowly building it up to create and show their presence. At least I was only there one week.
*Water tower of Homesh, often a symbol of the settlement
Thanks for sharing. Interesting.