"Not Only from Religious Zionism": The New Families Settling in the Jordan Valley

18 families have moved into the new moshav of Batron in the Jordan Valley, as part of a cabinet decision to strengthen settlement along the eastern border. The families come from diverse backgrounds—religious, secular, from the valley and from central Israel—and are living in temporary homes until infrastructure is completed. Residents view the settlement as a security and Zionist response, particularly in light of the events of October 7.

18 families have moved into the new moshav of Batron in the Jordan Valley, out of 20 families that make up the initial core. The moshav was established as part of a security cabinet decision to create new settlements and strengthen settlement, aimed at reinforcing Israel's eastern border. The families come from diverse backgrounds—from the valley, Holon, the north, and the south—and according to residents, it is difficult to define the population by a specific segment: "It's not Religious Zionism, it's not secular, it's not necessarily city dwellers. It's a fairly characteristic cross-section of Israeli society." Infrastructure is still under development, and families are living in temporary homes, but plans are already in place for a multipurpose building that will serve as a synagogue and club, a kindergarten, and a grocery store. Residents see the location near the border not only as a challenge but also as a security asset—many are veterans of combat units and are armed. One resident, Ben, says his younger brother, Sergeant First Class Gal Bason, fell in battle during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, and that event led him to questions whose answer was the Zionist idea. The events of October 7 also strengthened his choice of settlement. Despite the difficulty of being far from family, the feeling is that the families are part of something bigger, and their vision is to see Batron as a thriving community with agriculture and community life in ten years.