The head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, the leaders of the Gev Harer settlements and the residents of the area this morning (Friday) held an event honoring the 202nd paratroopers’ brigade Lt. Col. Almog Rotem and the fighters, due to the incident in which settlers violently attacked fighters in Hvara near Nablus.
The event took place at the opening of the Henkin race that takes place every year at the Hatzim yeshiva, in memory of Naama and Rabbi Itam Henkin who were murdered 7 years ago between Alon Mora and Itamar. Rabbi Eitham Henkin was a graduate of Yeshiva Hitzim and was on his way from an alumni event of Yeshiva Hitzim when he was murdered with his wife Naama in a shooting attack in front of his children. Yeshiva Hatizim holds the Hankin race every year with students and residents of the area.
The ceremony was attended by the Shomron Brigade, Col. Shimon Siso, from the 202nd Brigade, Lt. Col. Almog Rotem, and with him the soldiers who were at the event in Hawara. Dagan presented a large bouquet of flowers to the Majad as well as olive oil and wine from Samaria together with the leaders of the settlements.
Dagan: “Just before the Hankin race, we chose to open this event, an event in recognition of the IDF soldiers who serve here and all over the country, led by the 202nd Brigade Almog, and the Neve fighter. We love you very much, we salute you, and we all deeply thank you. We don’t need to say too much about The event that shouldn’t have happened here the other day, we all have the same opinion about it, we don’t get confused.
The settlement in Samaria loves the IDF and I say clearly what we all feel in our hearts. We are full of appreciation and admiration for the IDF soldiers who work here day and night to protect the residents of Samaria – and hence from Samaria, to protect all the residents of the State of Israel. No one in the world will succeed in separating the residents of Samaria and the youth of Samaria from the IDF and Battalion 202. We love you and we love the IDF. Thank you!”
Hadas Goldin, chairman of Itamar: “The amount of love and pampering that the residents shower on the soldiers in routine and certainly during tense times testifies to what is clear to all of us, the IDF and the settlement are one piece that works together for the security of the entire State of Israel.”
Golan Avgi, chairman of Yitzhar: “We all hug the soldiers. Happily, the settlement of Yitzhar has undergone many positive changes in recent years. I recommend the media to update a version and find out that not every negative event comes out of a statement. The residents of Yitzhar and the leadership work closely with the army and we have a corner for soldiers and many choppers, we hug the soldiers and love them.”