While an argument/discussion exists as regards the practice of tremping, which I first encountered when I was in the country in 1966, when there were no ''territories'', the fact of the matter is that those whose mindset is on "small" will never grasp the cognitive importance of the term "expanses".
This item informs us that terrain guides who have specialized in the areas of Judea and Samaria, despite the dangers and restrictions and the occasional terror attacks and deaths, are volunteering to assist the searchers who are not that knowledgeable in the off-the-beaten-track routes of the area. In fact, those murders of Ahikam Amihai (20) and David Ruben (21) only spurred the determination to hike in areas of the Land of Israel. Not for naught to we recall the expression
''Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto thee will I give it.''
That promise to Abraham is fixed in our consciousness.
In the first intifada I myself joined a group of hikers who insisted in walking through areas that were, yes, dangerous. And our main reason was to illustrate our dedication and commitment to our land, our security, our fearlesssness. On Fridays, we would set off to pass bear two cillages and one source of water. We were quite well aware of what we were doing.
The insistence to blame the victim for the evil of our Arab enemies is the easy way out. These detractors of our presence in this land know they cannot deal rationally or moderately with Hamas, or Fatah, or Islamic Jihad just like Magnes, Buber, et. al. could not do so with the Mufti in Mandate days. So they blame us.
It will not help them.
Jews have been killed in our beds, sleeping on buses, in restaurants, in sipermarkets, cinemas, in kibbutzim and cities. We have been old and young, religious and secular, male and female. The ''other spirit'' of Calev
But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
must be found again and reenlisted to bring about a modern-day reality of this;
kings of the Amorites...and all the kings of the Canaanites...their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
P.S. For those interested in Judea and Samaria hiking can, if they read Hebrew, purchase this 2-volume book, or join any of several hiking groups, such as this one or contacting a field school, such as Gush Etzion Field School or the Midreshet Gofna.
^