Shomron Regional Council

The Shomron Regional Council (Hebrew: מועצה אזורית שומרון‎, Mo'atza Azorit Shomron, English Samaria Regional Council) is an Israeli regional council in the northern West Bank. It provides municipal services for the 35 Israeli Settlements[2] in the Samarian hills within its jurisdiction with a total population of about 23,600 people. The main offices are located in the Barkan Industrial Park. The Council's logo[3] is inscribed with Biblical words from Jeremiah 31:5: "Again You will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria," reflecting the region's wine industry.

Shomron Regional Council

מועצה אזורית שומרון‎
CountryIsrael
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
RegionWest Bank
Area
2,800,000 dunams (2,800 km2 or 1,100 sq mi)
Population
 (2014)[1]
34,100
 • Density12/km2 (32/sq mi)
Websitewww.shomron.org.il

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[4]

The municipal area of the Council spreads across 2,800 square kilometers. Until the fall of 2005 when some of its municipal land was abandoned as part of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan, the Shomron Regional Council had been the largest Israeli regional council in municipal area.

In August 2015, Yossi Dagan was elected to position of Chairman of Shomron Regional Council, with 62% of the vote.[5]

Geography

The municipal area of the Council spreads across 2,800 square kilometers, which corresponds to about 10 percent of the area of the State of Israel within the Green Line. In municipal area, Shomron Regional Council is among the largest Israeli authorities.

Map of communities of Shomron regional council

The municipal boundaries:

The Council is divided into geographic regions, where each region has its own characteristics:[6]

Tourism

The local government and residents of Shomron opened the region to local and international tourism. Boutique wineries,[7] organic farms, historical and biblical sites have developed into tourism attractions. The Jewish Shepherd at Kfar Tapuach, the Barkan Industrial park and hiking tails in the scenic natural reserve at attracting tourists from around the world. Israel's Minister of Tourism Yariv Lavin was quoted saying: "I strongly believe in the tourism potential of Samaria. I can tell you from personal experience that I visited Samaria many times, and it might very well be the most beautiful region in Israel".[8]

Sister City

On September 12, 2016, the Town of Hempstead in New York signed a Declaration of Cooperation with the Shomron Regional Council in the Israeli-controlled West Bank, as part of an effort to counter the BDS movement.[9][10] Council Chairman Yossi Dagan, Town Supervisor Anthony Santino, Councilmen Bruce Blakeman, Anthony D'Esposito, and Edward Ambrosino signed the document.

Towns of Shomron

The largest settlement in the Shomron Regional Council today is Sha'arei Tikva, numbering over 5,500 residents.

List of settlements

Razed settlements

During the implementation of Israel's unilateral disengagement plan of August/September 2005, the residents of four of the Shomron Regional Council's settlements were evicted, their residential buildings destroyed, and land abandoned to the Palestinians, including territory outlined in the Oslo Accords as Area 'C' in full Israeli control.

In northern Shomron:

References
  1. "Locality File". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2011. Archived from the original (XLS) on September 23, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
  2. (Hebrew). "The Shomron Regional Council website". Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  3. Picture of the logo with the Bible verse on the bottom
  4. "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  5. LAZAROFF, TOVAH (5 August 2015). "Yossi Dagan wins election to head Samaria Regional Counci". Jerusalem Post.
  6. מועצה איזורית שומרון Shomron Regional Council Archived November 6, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Times of Israel. "Settlement winery touts vino with a biblical vintage". Retrieved Sep 19, 2015.
  8. "Minister Levin: Visit Samaria, it's the most beautiful region in Israel". Feb 11, 2015.
  9. Colapietro, Diana "Town creates ‘sister’ relationship with Israeli region. Hempstead officials reaffirm their anti-BDS stance and support for the Jewish state" LI Herald September 14, 2016 http://www.liherald.com/stories/Town-creates-sister-relationship-with-Israeli-region,83694
  10. "In anti-BDS stand, Hempstead New York signs sister city pact with settler council" Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/In-anti-BDS-stand-Hempstead-New-York-signs-sister-city-pact-with-settler-council-467880

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