Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan said the foiled terrorist cell's plan to attack the establishment ceremony of the new Ganim settlement demonstrates that Israel's return to northern Samaria is a strategic game-changer. "Our answer is clear: we will not be deterred," Dagan said, vowing to establish more communities. The cell was foiled overnight in Jenin, according to Channel 14 military correspondent Hillel Biton Rosen.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, responded Thursday night to the foiling of a terrorist cell in Jenin that had planned an attack on the Ganim settlement inauguration ceremony. Dagan said the plot demonstrates that Israel's return to northern Samaria is a strategic game-changer. "Our answer is clear: we will not be deterred," he said, vowing to establish more communities.
At 20:05 Jerusalem Thursday, Channel 14 military correspondent Hillel Biton Rosen reported that the Yamam counter-terror unit had foiled a cell in Jenin plotting to assassinate Defense Minister Israel Katz. Minutes later, additional details emerged: the cell had instead planned to carry out an attack at that morning's establishment ceremony of the new Ganim community in northern Samaria — an event attended by Katz, Dagan, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, and MK Yuli Edelstein. The arrests were carried out across three buildings without resistance, with senior Border Police and Yamam commanders directing the operation.
The foiled plot is the latest security challenge accompanying the Samaria Regional Council's settlement initiative, dubbed "Hitchabrut" (Connection). As The Zioneer reported on June 9, 2026, Dagan presented a plan for 18 new settlements at a Washington conference, winning congressional support. The Ganim ceremony marked the first of those planned communities to be formally established. Dagan has consistently emphasized the role of community security coordinators and standby squads as Israel's first line of defense, and has visited wounded victims and pledged new settlements near previous attack sites, as The Zioneer reported.
It remains unclear whether the Jenin cell operated independently or had organizational direction. No group has claimed responsibility for the planned attack as of this report.
3 developments
- StrongYossi Dagan in new video: 'We returned to northern Samaria, now we must return to Gaza'
- DevelopingSamaria council head Yossi Dagan visits wounded Itamar Cohen, pledges to establish new settlement near attack site
- DevelopingGanim settlement to be re-established Thursday, 21 years after disengagement
- StrongSamaria council head presents plan for 18 new settlements in northern Samaria at Washington conference, wins congressional support
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