Harasha

Harasha, or Haresha (Hebrew: חרשה‎), is a Jewish village and Israeli outpost in the Binyamin region of the northern section of the West Bank, located in the Dolev region near Talmon. At 770 metres, the view from the village reaches Hadera in the northwest, Ashkelon in the southwest, and Jerusalem in the east.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[1]

History

Harasha was established on 14 January 1999 by two students from Mercaz haRav with assistance from the Amana settlement organization. The name is taken from a Bible verse, mentioning Jews returning from different places in the Babylonian exile. (Nehemiah 7:61: "The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harasha ...") A year earlier, a water tower had been erected on the hilltop which until then had treeless rocky ground. Ariel Sharon would bring visitors to the hilltop to explain the importance of Israeli control over the Judea and Samaria ridges.[2]

About 35 families, including over 200 people, live in Harasha. The occupation of most of the adults is in education, either studying or teaching. The local public services provided include a synagogue, a kollel, a mikvah, nurseries and kindergartens. The village receives its municipal services from the Matte Binyamin Regional Council.

According to the Sasson report, Haresha is an unauthorized settlement.[3] In April 2010 National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau called for its legalization.[4]

References
  1. "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  2. Hoberman, Haggai (2008). Keneged Kol HaSikuim [Against All Odds] (in Hebrew) (1st ed.). Sifriat Netzaim.
  3. "Peace Now Outposts List". Archived from the original on 2009-07-25.
  4. "On W. Bank Tour, Landau Calls for Legalizing Two Outposts". The Jerusalem Post. April 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-08.


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