4 Stops in Shomron: See Old and New

4 Stops in Shomron: See Old and New

At first, I said no.

I had been on trips to the Shomron (Samaria) in the past.

The schedule seemed similar to previous visits to the Shomron and Barkan.

However, on Sunday morning, as the Jerusalem, Israel skies turned grey,

String Bridge in Jerusalem Israel on a cloudy winter morning

I was on a bus on my way out of town before the rain started to come down…

and come down long and hard on the very dry Jerusalem streets.

Arab village with nice and new houses in West Bank

As we drove away from Jerusalem, the morning sky was blue and clear.

Clouds gathered as we neared the Barkan Industrial Park in the Shomron.

Ariel Industrial zone from Shomron road

The view from the road to Barkan of Ariel Industrial Park was as impressive as ever.   The development and growth in the once-barren hills is amazing.

Israel Allies Foundation meeting in Shomron with Yossi Dagan and David Haivri

Stop #1 in the Barkan included greetings from the Shomron Council officials to the Israel Allies international parliamentarians.  These supporters of Israel had come from around the world.

Sierra Leone Thomas Coker and US SC Alan Clemmons take a selfie on Israel Allies tour to Shomron

I have an entire album of selfies.  Dr. Thomas Coker of Sierre Leone taking a photo with Alan Clemmons of South Carolina has to be the new favorite.

Full disclosure – one of the main reasons I decided to go was to meet Facebook friend Rep. Alan Clemmons who initiated the first US anti-BDS legislation in South Carolina. Over half the US states now have similar laws against Israeli boycotts.

 "Never Again will nations stand silent in the face of boycotts against the Jewish people," parliamentarians and sign

“Never Again will nations stand silent in the face of boycotts against the Jewish people,” stated this declaration signed by the international group of 25 ministers and parliamentarians.

MK Miki Zohar at Barkan Industrial zone for IAF lawmakers

MK Miki Zohar held up a photo of Kim Levengrond Yehezkel z”l  and Ziv Hajbi z”l as he addressed the delegation. The signing and speeches were held in the parking lot of the Twitoplast factory.

In October last year, this workplace of coexistence, that I had written about more than once, was the shocking scene of terror when the two young parents were murdered.

IAF Josh Reinstein, parents of terror victims and MK Miki Zohar at Barkan Industrial Park one year after murder

Ziv’s mother spoke as did Kim’s father (seated in center). Both asked the international lawmakers to get their governments to stop funding terror. Standing is IAF President Josh Reinstein, and sitting next to the podium is Yossi Dagan of Shomron Council.

No trip to the Barkan is complete without Moshe Lev Ran, who spoke to the international visitors in the Twitoplast factory.

Moshe’s smile and message were not new.

As I have shared in the past, these factories in the Shomron employ thousands of Arab workers. Work in these Jewish businesses means higher salaries and benefits than under PA.   If an Israel business is forced to close from the EU labeling restrictions and boycott, those hurt most are the families of the Arab employees.

Factory in Barkan Industrial Park

Each time I go to the factory there seem to be more products.

Israel Twito, the creative genius behind Twitoplast, has over 100 patents.

This graphic makes the areas A, B, C, clearer than if I tried to explain the complex situation of governance in Yehudah and Shomron.

Red signs forbidding Israeli citizens entry to Arab village

Roads in the Shomron in area “A” have red signs not allowing Israelis to enter.

As you can see the weather had changed by the time we left Barkan.

West Bank scene where person was killed by terrorist and memorial set up

The memorials of terror victims are along the road near intersections.

West Bank Israel scene from road of small village and rolling hills

Villages in the valley sit between the rolling hills that line the road.

New housing on the hilltops gets more impressive with each visit.

Stop #2 was also a repeat and as expected the Kabir Winery lunch was excellent.

The second reason I decided to go was that Leah Goldin, mother of Hadar Goldin z”l, was to speak after lunch.  For 5 years and 4 months, she has tried to get her son’s remains, held captive in Gaza by Hamas, returned to Israel for burial.

I was on a bus returning to Jerusalem from Soroka Hosptial in Beer Sheva after the supposed 2014 ceasefire. Rockets were still being fired, and we could see the Iron Dome at work.

Hamas killed and captured Hadar two hours after the “cease-fire” began- a war crime and against humanitarian rules of conduct. Goldin wanted to make the legislators aware and urged them to help in their home countries.

Stop #3 was in Shiloh.

Israeli Allies leaders at Shilon

This was done very quickly as the sun was setting soon.

Shiloh Alan Clemmons at Israel Allies IAF

Minutes after this it started to rain.

Shiloh with international IAD parliamentarians

Very quickly the group posed for a photo next to the new colorful display of the Twelve Tribes.

I went prepared for the day with an umbrella and plastic bags, however, they were on the bus.

Ancient tabernacle of Shiloh and Jewish holy ark in new hologram movie

We ran up the hill in the dark and rain to shelter in the Shiloh hologram show of ancient Shiloh, and movie reenactment with actors.

For 369 years ancient Shiloh was the site of the Tabernacle before King Solomon built his temple in Jerusalem. You will have to come to see for yourself, as rainy nights are not the best conditions for photography.

Stop #4 was the Psagot Winery.

Psagot Winery restaurant

Another ride up a winding, narrow road to a mountain top, to the warmth of a fine restaurant.

Psagot Wine bottles at Winery

And wine. Good wine. Psagot owners went to the ICC international court to try and reverse the EU labeling against Jewish businesses in the Shomron. They lost, but they plan to keep trying. With 200 disputed territories in the world, they ask why only Jewish Israelis have to be singled out with special labeling?

Having been in the Shomron, it was good to see and hear the old and new.

Plenty was happening on the Jerusalem streets, besides heavy rain.

UN Ambassadors at Israeli President's house on tour led by Danny Danon

A tour of Ambassadors to the UN, led by Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon was at Beit Hanasi, the Israeli President’s House.

For most of the international diplomats, it was their first trip to Israel.

In Jerusalem a group of Arab high school students going to Islamic Museum

While they were in private discussions with President Rivlin, across the street, a group of Arab students was on their way to the Islamic Museum

More from Leah Goldin speaking about humanitarian and legal issues.

More Facebook Shomron photos of the trip HERE 

More from what’s happening in Jerusalem, Israel next time.

Barkan, What’s Happening over Green Line

Barkan, What’s Happening over Green Line

Summer time. Israelis travel.  It is reported that half the population goes overseas.

Having traveled plenty, especially when we lived in Australia and circled the globe numerous times, I am staying closer to home.

However, I gladly accepted another chance to go see more of the Shomron.

View of Shomron from bus

There are vast expanses of land, with magnificent views as seen from the bus.

Arab building in YESHA construction

This is all new Arab construction, and many are empty summer homes for people living overseas.

Leshem new houses

Leshem, the future home of hundreds of young Israeli families, is growing.

Near Ariel, only an hour drive from Jerusalem, our destination was the Twitoplast factory in the Barkan Industrial Park.

Barkan Industrial park Israeli business hiring Arab workers

In the Ariel and Barkan Industrial Parks, Israelis and Arabs come together and work together.

Arab workers in Israeli factory in Barkan Industrial Park

I was in the factory on a previous visit and saw some of the plastic pieces being made,

Palestinian workers in Barkan Industrial Parl

plastic components which are sent around the world.

Palestinian workers in Israel

This is where Arab workers, many second generation, get a decent wage and benefits.

Cars in Shomron industrial area with Palestinian license plates

Last time I noticed their cars parked outside.

Barkan Industrial Park near Ariel Israeli business new green house for education of Arab workers' children

This visit, however, the green house constructed in the parking lot was our point of interest.

Moshe Lev Ran, VP of International Sales, spoke for the owner, Yisrael Twito.

Twito has built and maintained a successful business, in spite of BDS activists trying to shut him and other businesses down.

I decided to let you hear Moshe, an individual too hard to describe in one caption.

Twito not only employs and supports hundreds of families, but in this greenhouse he is teaching their children the importance of education. The children are learning about agriculture and animals, and more importantly, about innovation and motivation.

Israelis traveling in Europe have noted it is hard to find kosher food. European labeling laws and BDS initiatives have affected some “Over the Green Line” businesses.

Arab woman working in Israeli business

Twitoplast is only one business. There are dozens more. From over two years ago:

What the Main Stream Media is Not Reporting: The Arab Jobs at Risk 

West Bank view from bus

Ariel and Barkan Industrial Parks, carved out of hills, have been developed over the past 30 years.

BDS does not “help Palestinians,” rather they are ones hurt most if companies like TwitoPlast and SodaStream are forced to move.

West Bank Winery in Shomron

One small, growing business in the Shomron is the Kabir Winery in Elon Moreh.

Elon Moreh Kabir Winery

The Kabir Winery is one of several wineries with tastings and food options.

New vineyards are being planted. Listen to the wind on the mountain top looking down on Shehem, or Nablus.

If you miss the annual Wine Festival at the Israel Museum, take a trip and see these boutique wineries. The quality of the kosher wine and food options might surprise you.

View in YESHA, West Bank

While I marvel how much Israel has accomplished under difficult circumstances, in 70 years, in 50 years Israelis in Judea and Samaria have many accomplishments of which to be proud.

I only regret that it took me so long to go and see for myself what was really happening over the “Green Line.”

If you want to see for yourself, let me know and I will connect you.

Finally, if you missed my other recent trip to Shomron, those 7 stops: HERE.