Israeli authorities last Thursday signed a planning contract for Bar Kochva, a new community in Judea that will connect Gush Etzion to Jerusalem, situated between Sde Boaz and Har Gilo.
The signing follows a Cabinet decision a year ago to establish the community and comes months after the first mobile home neighborhood was set up on the site.
Yaron Rosenthal, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council said this new community will restore Israeli sovereignty to a historic ridge that stood abandoned for generations.” He added, “Bar Kochva will redefine the area and stand as a symbol of Zionism, resilience and rooted presence in the land. We are privileged to witness this moment. ”
The new community, also known as “Neve Ori,” in memory of 19-year-old Ori Ansbacher, a Gush resident who was murdered in 2019 by an Arab terrorist. We hope that this development together with the movement for Sovereignty will lead to a “Greater Jerusalem” that includes Gush Etzion.
Source:
Bar Kochva: Community in Judea to connect Gush Etzion to Jerusalem, by JNS Staff, July 18, 2025