In a daring act of faith and defiance, families from Samaria crossed the Syrian border to establish a new Jewish community in the ancient Bashan region, citing both security needs and biblical heritage—before the IDF intervened and returned them to Israel.
A dramatic and unusual scene unfolded on Monday near Alonei Habashan when a group of Israeli families from Samaria crossed the border into Syrian territory to establish a new settlement they named “Neve Habashan.”
The group—including children—intended to remain long-term, declaring their mission both an act of security and a return to ancestral Jewish heritage. At the site, the family of Yehudah Dror Yahalom, a soldier from Hebron killed in Lebanon, set up a memorial corner and planted flowers in his honor.
“A Security Necessity and a Biblical Right”
Leah Sheffer of Avnei Eitan, a leader in the “Bashan Pioneers” movement, told Arutz Sheva-Israel National News that the initiative had been in preparation for months.
“From a security standpoint, we believe it is right to establish settlements so the IDF can control territory further forward. Without this, another October 7-style attack could easily breach our fence,” she warned.
Sheffer also invoked biblical history, pointing to the tribe of Menashe’s inheritance in the Bashan region, where archaeological remains from the Second Temple period still exist.
Crossing and Return
Sheffer described how the families crossed less than a kilometer beyond the fence:
“The IDF controls the area, and the fence was wide open. It took 30–40 minutes before anyone noticed. We erected a sign in memory of Yehuda Yahalom, and his family was very moved.”
She added that the soldiers who encountered them were warm and supportive, even praising their vision of a “complete Land of Israel,” though they ultimately urged the group to leave to avoid legal consequences.
Activists: ‘The Bashan Calls Us Back’
In a statement, the group declared:
“The Bashan is our ancestral heritage. These empty expanses are calling us to return and settle the land. We call on the Israeli government to remove the enemy from all areas of the Bashan and allow pioneers to settle there!”
IDF: ‘A Serious Incident’
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed the incident:
“Earlier today, a report was received about several vehicles carrying Israeli civilians who crossed the border fence into Syrian territory. IDF forces safely returned the civilians to Israel after a short time.”
The army stressed that the group’s actions constituted a criminal offense and posed risks to both civilians and soldiers. The activists were transferred to police custody for questioning.
