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