Sa-Nur
Former Israeli settlement in the West Bank
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sa-Nur (Hebrew: שא-נור, lit. 'Flame Carrier') is an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank, just north of the Palestinian towns of Silat ad-Dhahr and Fandaqumiya, under the administrative jurisdiction of Shomron Regional Council.[1]
This community was established in 1977 by the Gush Emunim movement and given its name after consultation with songwriter Naomi Shemer[2]. Sa-Nur shares its name with Sanur, a nearby Palestinian community.
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3]
Unilateral disengagement
In September 2005 its 105 residents were evicted and Israel Defense Forces soldiers began dismantling Sanur as part of Israeli disengagement from Gaza.[4] Prior to its demolition, Sa-Nur was home to 43 families.[5] The demolition of Sa-Nur and Homesh marked the end of the central part of the disengagement plan.[6] The only remaining structure, a synagogue, was buried.[7]
Attempts to rebuild
Since the demolition, religious Zionist groups have attempted to return to Sa-Nur, in order to rebuild the community. On 8 May 2008, following a permitted Independence Day rally in Homesh, a group of 150 set off at night for Sa-Nur, including many former residents.[5]
On 30 July 2015, marking the 10 year anniversary after the evacuation, 250 people, made up of 20 former families, attempted to resettle in Sa-Nur, before being forcibly evicted by the Israel Defense Forces.[8][9]
In late July 2018, 200 Jewish settlers, supported by Bayit Yehudi MKs Shuli Mualem and Bezalel Smotrich, revisited the area as part of a plan to challenge the Disengagement Plan which led to the settlement's dismantlement.[10]
Reestablishment
In May 2025, the government's Security Cabinet approved the reestablishment of Sa-Nur, along with the formerly dismantled settlement of Homesh, as well as the establishment of 20 other new settlements.[11] The settlement was reestablished with caravans and a military base in 2026.[12][13]
In July 2026, Sa-Nur hosted its highest profile foreign visitor to date, Dutch politician Geert Wilders.[14]