Hermesh
Hermesh (Hebrew: חֶרְמֵשׁ, lit. Scythe) is an Israeli settlement in the western Samarian hills of the West Bank. Founded in 1984, it is organised as a community settlement and falls under the jurisdiction of Shomron Regional Council. In 2019 it had a population of 224.
| Hermesh חֶרְמֵשׁ | |
|---|---|
|  Homes in Hermesh | |
| Etymology: Scythe | |
|   Hermesh | |
| Coordinates: 32°25′24″N 35°7′9″E | |
| District | Judea and Samaria Area | 
| Council | Shomron | 
| Region | West Bank | 
| Affiliation | Mishkei Herut Beitar | 
| Founded | 1984 | 
| Founded by | Mishkei Herut Beitar | 
| Population  (2019)[1] | 224 | 
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal, but the Israeli government disputes this.[2]
History
    
Hermesh was established in 1984 by the Mishkei Herut Betar settlement organization. Most of the residents of Hermesh are secular Jews or non-Jews. More than half of the population are new immigrants, mainly from the former Soviet Union. Their motivation for living in the region is not ideology but quality of life.[3]
On 29 October 2002, three residents of Hermesh, Orna Eshel (53), Hadas Turgeman (14), and Linoy Saroussi (14) were shot dead by a Palestinian gunman who entered the village armed with a Kalashnikov.[3] A soldier and a resident were wounded in the attack. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.[4]
On 20 June 2005, a resident of Hermesh, Yevgeny Reider (28) was killed in a shooting attack near Baqa ash-Sharqiyya, in the northern West Bank. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.[4]
References
    
- "Population in the Localities 2019" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
- "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- Settlers in Hermesh, home of attack victim, make no ideological claims, Haaretz
- Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000 Archived 2007-04-03 at the Wayback Machine