Thousands of people have been marched to the former Samaria community of Homesh since Tuesday morning, on Israel's Independence Day. The number of participants far exceeded the expectations of the march organizers and of the security forces assigned to the event. As of Tuesday evening Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers at checkpoints along the way made no attempt to stop the marchers, saying they are there to secure the area, protect the marchers from Arabs (who live in neighboring local villages), and to prevent activists from using side trails off the main road. The march was described as quiet and calm, with the atmosphere between the soldiers and marchers as "very relaxed." At the head of the main organized group of marchers, which set off at 11:00 a.m. from a nearby town, was Nobel Prize Laureate Professor Yisrael Aumann. The world-renowned professor of game theory stated in recent days that he sees a return to Homesh as "signaling the imperative change of direction the state needs. The march to Homesh expresses very well the aspiration to be a free people in our land." Professor Aumann addressed the gathered activists, as did the Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Arba, Rabbi Dov Lior.

According to Tzafrir Ronen, among the march organizers, the turnout was far beyond what the Homesh First umbrella group had planned on. "We prepared for about 3,000 people, and there are more than 30,000 here," Ronen said. Eyewitnesses said the total number of marchers on the road numbered between seven and ten thousand. Dozens of hired buses, including some organized without the help or knowledge of the march organizers, brought supporters of Homesh resettlement from all over the country. The Likud movement also formally joined in on the Homesh march during Tuesday morning. Four buses hired by the Likud party brought activists to the area. Most of marchers are teenagers and people under the age of thirty, many pushing strollers with toddlers and babies, although some are middle-aged and older. "I've seen some grandfathers climbing up the hill," said eyewitness Jonathan Stein. Several thousand people had reached the ruins of Homesh by early afternoon, Stein reported. Commenting on the determination of all of the participants to complete the hike, organizer Ronen said, "I have been to all the battles and all the demonstrations - I have never seen anything like this." The participants are varied and represent "all types - religious, secular, Haredi, old people and young," according to Ronen. "They are all streaming towards Homesh in an unbelievable flow. The deployed police unit was unable to cope and simply folded up its tent and left the area. Of four or five jeeps, there remains one, [whose occupants] have nothing to do but have a friendly chat with the marchers. Determination has proven itself. It is also clear to the police that this place is ours...."

Residents of the Gush Etzion region south of Jerusalem celebrated Independence Day by laying claim to an Efrat-area hilltop set to be left on the Bethlehem side of the Partition Wall. Givat HaEitam, as the contested spot is called, is a hilltop near the large town of Efrat with a commanding view of the Hevron-Jerusalem highway and the main Jewish communities in the region. Residents say abandoning it not only limits Efrat's ability to expand, but would provide terrorists with a high-point from which to launch attacks on motorists and residents. Datya Yitzchaki, formerly of the Gush Katif community of Kfar Yam and now involved in the grassroots action committees formed in Gush Etzion communities to combat the Partition Wall said, "People came and celebrated Independence Day with barbeques and activities in a place that truly is threatened with abandonment right before our eyes. This is a true observance of Independence Day."

Efrat's Chief Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, who immigrated together with many members of his congregation in New York City to Gush Etzion, took part in the event. "Our presence in this place is required in order to rectify the mistake of the expulsion that took place two years ago, and also due to security and settlement needs," Riskin told those gathered. Activists made the necessary preparations at the site for foundations to be poured for a permanent structure there. Others planted trees. Women in Green Director Nadia Matar said that the event was but the first step in the settlement of the site, as well as a return to the norms of settling Judea and Samaria openly and with pride. Literature distributed at the event described Givat HaEitam as being effectively stolen from Efrat, which planned to build 2,500 housing units there. State lands and privately-owned Jewish land fenced out by the wall has quickly been settled by Arab squatters and hastily sewn with political agriculture. "Givat HaEitam is the hill connecting eastern and western Gush Etzion," the pamphlets read. "Do not fall into the trap of 'divide and conquer' – of thinking that those who live in western Gush Etzion face a fate any different than that of those [currently being placed 'outside' the fence –ed.] in eastern Gush Etzion. The plans of our enemies both without and within are to return to the 1967 borders. Only a united struggle will yield results. "The fact that Givat HaEitam is being left outside the fence is testimony to the fact that the government intends to abandon us just as it is abandoning those outside the fence ... The time has come to rise up and not only save Givat HaEitam, but to return to the basic Zionist values and the inheritance of our forefathers. The time has come to end the White Paper [a reference to the British Mandate directive limiting Jewish immigration to Israel –ed.] policies that prevent the building of new Jewish communities in the Land of Israel."

Recently twenty-one members of Fellowship Church (shown left) in Casselberry, Florida traveled to a small town in the region of Samaria called Kedumim. They went there with the express purpose of helping the residents to expand their borders and to encourage them to continue to build up the land God promised to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants forever. The project involved clearing out debris from a pool (pond), running piping up the mountain side, attaching an electric pump, and pouring a concrete bed for the pool and water path down the mountain.

The group of Christians was at first confounded by the lack of necessary tools, but then began to see the real but unsensational hand of God providing all that was necessary for them to do the job. As Jewish residents witnessed the same, both groups shared a very special time and have bonded a special relationship. All of the participants and church members have expressed a desire to return and help the community with other developmental projects. The photo (bottom left) shows residents of Kedumim and other neighboring communities enjoying the newly developed park during the week of the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread.

The word Kedumim literally means "firsts." This name was given to this community because they were the first of many communities to be established and is currently growing for more than thirty years in the regions of Judea and Samaria. The largest neighboring city is Ariel.

Fellowship Church has been developing a relationship with the community of Kedumim since 1984 when Pastor Ken Garrison first met Kedumim mayor Daniella Weiss. He was overwhelming impressed with her strong faith, making many statements like, 'God had met their forefathers on these mountains and they intended to meet Him there as well.' Not only were her words impressive, but also her bold spirit, courage, and determination. These many years later, and in spite of the loss of many loved family members and friends, they still stand strong. Other photos and a detailed article on this project can also be seen at the Kedumim community web site.

The Tzemach Institute has joined forces with the Christian Friends Of Israeli Communities (CFOIC) in planning a special tour of the heartland of biblical Israel. Join us as we explore Israel from a genuine Biblical Zionists perspective. Meet the people who are continuing the Biblical narrative in the Land today. See for yourself how ancient prophesies are being fulfilled. Discover how you too can participate in the ongoing process of Biblical Redemption. Join us for an opportunity of a lifetime, to see the real Israel from the viewpoint of those who are living the Bible today. The experience will change your life. The tour has been coordinated with Sondra Baras of CFOIC and will be guided by Associate Pastor Jon Klein [pictured left].
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