The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal, but the Israeli government disputes this.[2]
History
Hermesh was established in 1984 by the Mishkei Herut Beitar settlement organization. Most of the residents of Hermesh are secular Jews or non-Jews. More than half of the population are new immigrants, mainly from the former Soviet Union. Their motivation for living in the region is not ideology but quality of life.[3]
On 29 October 2002 three residents of Hermesh, Orna Eshel (53), Hadas Turgeman (14), and Linoy Saroussi (14) were shot dead by a Palestinian gunman who entered the village armed with a Kalashnikov.[3] A soldier and a resident were wounded in the attack. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.[4]
On 20 June 2005 Hermesh resident Yevgeny Reider (28) was killed in a shooting attack near Baqa ash-Sharqiyya, in the northern West Bank. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.[4] On 30 May 2023 settler Meir Tamari (32) was killed in a shooting attack near the entrance of the settlement. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Archaeology
Frasin, an archeological site located across the road is identified with Kfar Parshai, a site mentioned in the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Abodah Zarah, 31a).[5] It also preserves the biblical name 'Peresh' (of the Tribe of Manasseh).
