JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A new community was established early Thursday morning in Gush Etzion, with the first homes placed at the site in the presence of Regional Council Head Yaron Rosenthal. The community is located near Bethlehem, in the area of Shdema. According to the council, this is a strategically significant point that connects the eastern part of Gush Etzion to Jerusalem and creates a continuous Jewish presence between the growing communities of the region. The site previously housed an army base that was abandoned many years ago.
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Rosenthal said:
“Last night we established a new community in Gush Etzion at Shdema—Shadmot Beit Lechem near Bethlehem. For two thousand years, Jews prayed to return to Bethlehem, and here we have merited it. We have returned to the city of Rachel our Matriarch and King David, a community that will strengthen the link between eastern Gush Etzion and Jerusalem. A huge thank you to our partners in Amana and to the council staff who worked here all night. Today we returned home to Bethlehem.
“Mazal tov to Gush Etzion, to the settlement movement, and to the new families who have established their homes in the community of Shdema. ‘Shehecheyanu, v’kiy’manu, v’higiyanu la’zman hazeh.’ To Rachel we say: ‘Restrain your voice from weeping… your children shall return to their border.’ And behold,we have merited to return to Rachel’s tomb, and are sure she is no longer crying, but looking down from above at her children who have returned to the city where she is buried. Today she is very happy.”
Two days ago, the outpost Tzur Mishgavi, located further south, was evacuated following a request from Rosenthal. Twenty municipal leaders in Judea and Samaria issued a letter supporting Rosenthal and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (who holds authority in Judea and Samaria) over the evacuation.
In an official letter Rosenthal sent last September, he expressed clear support for enforcement against illegal construction in hilltop outposts. In his letter he listed several issues that led him to this stance, including complaints about abusive behavior by a resident as well as unauthorized circulars and private settlement initiatives that were carried out without planning or approval. Rosenthal added that the illegal settlement was hindering the development of thousands of housing units for the adjacent communities of Meitzad and Pnei Kedem as it was located on land slated for immediate construction.
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