Settlers: We'll return to Homesh on Independence Day
Thousands of right-wing followers plan to return to evacuated settlement; organizers say, 'Independence Day is not just about barbeques, it's about Zionism, values and settling the land'
With the country's 59th birthday around the corner Israelis are preparing for Olympic-level barbeques throughout the various national parks and resorts, but several thousand will have a very different Independence Day on the ruins of Homesh.
"There is no greater gift to the country than that of Zionism and ideology, to go back and rebuild the communities that were destroyed," said Yossi Dagan, who was evacuated from the Sa-nur settlement and is one of the organizers of the return to Homesh.
After already conducting two pilgrimages there to light candles on Hanukkah and celebrate Passover, settlers and their supporters will once again return to one of the communities evacuated as part of the disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank.
'This is Israeli property'
The IDF is expected to provide security for the settlers seeking to visit the location but not allow them to stay there. The gathering is expected to disperse that afternoon.
"Independence Day is not just a holiday of grills and flying kites. Independence day is a day of Zionism, values and settling the land," said Dagan, adding that nothing is more symbolic than leaving the cesspit of despair, corruption and lack of ideology created by the men who ordered the expulsion," he said.
The organizers said that the objective is to correct the mistake made by destroying the towns.
"This is Israeli property and it's been banned to Jews – this is not a normal situation, it doesn't make any sense, it's illogical and it's unacceptable."
The settlers will begin making their way towards Homesh in the very early hours of Tuesday morning, probably on foot from Shavei Shomron. Towards the late afternoon the organizers will launch the festivities planned for the evening, including fireworks and outdoor dancing.
Military sources told Ynet that just being asked to protect this group is detrimental to other missions in the region. However, said the source, the IDF will make sure that the people marching to Homesh are protected and watched after, don't stop for too long.
