Samaria, Israel's hidden asset

Michael Gottlieb
Guest blog/JPost
29 August '10

The rolling hills of Samaria, cradle of the Jewish Nation, present a mosaic of rocky hilltops and fertile valleys, dotted with groves of age-old, silver-green olive trees. The terraced hillsides, first developed by farmers in ancient times, blend into the natural landscape. The vistas and scenery, seemingly unchanged since Biblical days, reflect the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy "Again shall you plant vineyards on the mountains of Shomron". The perfumed mountain air and dazzling views excite the senses. Beautiful, barren and beckoning, the Shomron patiently awaits the return of the Jewish People.

Yet the Shomron, Israel's heartland region, remains an orphan child. Most Israelis don't go there and few really know anything about it - as if it were on another planet. However, far from being in outer space, the Shomron is virtually in our backyard. From Kfar Saba's industrial zone it's a ten minute bike ride away. Its majestic purple and gray mountain range, which runs north-south for 70 km, is clearly visible from any elevated location in Israel's center. Its downward sloping hillsides provide us with our drinking water.

The most notable feature of the Shomron is the immense strategic value it offers Israel. Its mountain range dominates the heavily populated coastal strip to the west and the strategic Jordan Valley to the east. Whoever controls Samaria also controls 70% of Israel's population, and 80% of its industry capacity. Samaria is arguably more strategic to the State of Israel than the Golan Heights!

Another important feature of the Shomron is that it contains the Mountain Aquifer, Israel's largest and most significant fresh water reservoir. It supplies about 600 million cubic meters of very high quality fresh water, equivalent to roughly one third of Israel's yearly water consumption. The Shomron Mountain Aquifer contains at least as much water as the Kinneret!

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