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 2022 it had a population of 245.

Hermesh חֶרְמֵשׁ‎
Etymology: Scythe
Hermesh Show map of the Northern West Bank Hermesh Show map of the West Bank Hermesh Show map of Israel
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  (2022)[1]	245

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 Beitar 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 Hermesh resident 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] On 30 May 2023 settler Meir Tamari (32) was killed in a shooting attack near the entrance of the settlement. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Archaeology

Frasin, an archeological site located across the road is identified with Kfar Parshai, a site mentioned in the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Abodah Zarah, 31a).^[5] It also preserves the biblical name 'Peresh' (of the Tribe of Manasseh).