Israel’s Settlements and National Missions Ministry, headed by Orit Strook (Religious Zionism Party), on Monday delivered 21 off-road “Ranger” vehicles to Jewish farmers in the Samaria region.
The vehicles were provided in cooperation with the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command, which includes Judea and Samaria.
“The farms are the most important and significant act of settlement in the areas of Judea and Samaria because they completely change the perception of the land, greatly expand our presence in the area and provide the best and most significant response to the Palestinian Authority-led plot to seize control of the land,” explained Strook.
“The Israeli people and the State of Israel owe a huge debt to the farmers who took upon themselves this mission and carry it out with incredible dedication,” stated Strook. “Israel, through the Settlements Ministry, appreciates the farms and does everything possible to secure them.”
In her remarks at the dedication event, Strook thanked OC Central Command Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth for his commitment to this mission.
Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan stated, “Settlement and security are intertwined. This is a lesson that Israel has learned the hard way, and it’s the truth we have carried for over 40 years here in Samaria.”
Fifty-eight percent of Israeli Jews believe that communities in Judea and Samaria contribute to the security of the entire country, according to a poll published by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) last week.
At the same time, more than two in three Jews fear that Arab terrorists based in Judea and Samaria could launch a significant attack similar to the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, according to a survey last month.
In mid-2023, Israeli Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter applauded farmers’ role in protecting Israeli state lands, declaring that “there are no better guardians than hundreds of sheep, tended by an Israeli shepherd.”
“All the government ministries are aware of the significant advantages of such farms, and they should be encouraged and enlarged in an orderly fashion,” added Dichter, who is a member of Israel’s ruling Likud Party.