On Tuesday, the AFSI group focused on the Shomron (Samaria) region of Israel. They made a stop in Amona, a community that has constantly been under threat of expulsion. They met with community leaders who briefed the group on their plans to continue resisting the government forces aligned against them.

They continued to Ateret, an Israeli town overlooking the new huge Arab city of Rawabi, and from there, continued to the city of Ariel. They visited the new community of Netzer Ariel, built by refugees from the community of Netzarim in Gaza, destroyed during the Gaza expulsion in 2005.

Never to miss an opportunity to meet with good friend Lenny Goldberg, the group continued through the infamous Tapuach Junction to Kfar Tapuach.

They then visited the community of Yitzhar, home of Ayelet and Akiva HaCohen and Ezra Tubi. Ezra is well-known for his You Tube videos that show Israel in its true colors. For example, this famous video, Imagine - The Israeli Version.

Next stop was Chavat Gilad (Gilad Farm), named after Gilad Zar who was murdered by Arabs in 2001. Considered "illegal" by Israeli authorities, the residents of Chavat Gilad live a harsh life under tremendous pressure. More can be learned about the bravest of individuals living there, by clicking on this link:

http://havatgilad.rjews.net/index.html

Meeting with good friend Ilana Shimoni in Chavat Gilad

After a full day spent visiting friends throughout the Shomron, the group returned to Jerusalem for dinner, and hosted the newest Knesset member, Yehuda Glick. Yehuda was the Executive Director of the Temple Institute, and has led many Jews on tour of the Temple Mount. In October 2014, he was seriously wounded in a murder attempt when he was shot outside the Begin Center in Jerusalem. Today he is a member of the Likud party and continues to be the face of the Jewish struggle for prayer rights at the Temple Mount.

Helen Freedman with Yehuda Glick