After a four-year battle led by Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, on Wednesday morning tens of thousands of Israelis celebrating Independence Day in Samaria were able to see the IAF flyover pass near their own homes.
The flyover, which for the first time included Samaria, flew over the towns of Itamar, Mevo Dotan, Elon Moreh, and Shaked.
Last year, the flyover was expanded to include Hebron and Gush Etzion.
Over 15,000 people watched the planes flying over Samaria’s mountains. Samaria’s residents and thousands of visitors photographed the planes, waved to the pilots, and flew Israeli flags.
During the celebrations, Dagan revealed that the one leading the flyover is Lieutenant Colonel B., who grew up in Samaria and whose family is one of the area’s founders. The crowd responded to the announcement with great emotion, and began to applaud.

“There is no greater pride than this, that the first flyover in Samaria since the founding of the State is led by a son of Samaria, who grew up here, and who understands the importance for the residents,” Dagan said.
“The flyover over Samaria this morning is a correction of the decades-long discrimination against the heroic and pioneering residents of Samaria. I thank Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and incoming IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who understood the importance and corrected the distortion. The settlements and the IDF are one, and together we will be victorious.”