Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud) visited Samaria on Tuesday to discuss promoting new initiatives for pensioners and young people in the area. 

During her trip, Gamliel visited an old age home in Elon Moreh, toured Har Bracha, and also met with both Samaria’s Chief Rabbi Elyakim Levanon and Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan. 

The population of Samaria specifically, and Judea-Samaria in general, is quiet young, but the Samaria Regional Council is preparing for an increase in its relative number of senior citizens – from 2% to 10% over the next decade.

During her visit, Gamliel announced that not only will her ministry work to promote activities for seniors living in Samaria, but it will also sponsor tours within Samaria for senior citizens across Israel. 

“Social equality also means accessibility of social activity for all senior citizens. In the Negev, the Galilee and Samaria,” Gamliel stressed.

Dagan thanked the minister for her visit and the new initiatives, which he declared would deepen the relationship between the Israeli public and Samaria – “the region of the country most inextricably linked to the history of the Jewish people.”

“This move is important for both tourism and business,” Dagan continues. “It could bolster tourism and business in Samaria thanks to the growing and blossoming number of travelers to the area.”