The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[4] In 2022 it had a population of 361.
History
Hemdat was first established in 1979[5] as a pioneer Nahal military outpost that was soon thereafter demilitarized and turned into a kibbutz when turned over to residential purposes to a group of pioneers from Hashomer Hatzair and Israel Boy and Girl Scouts Federation.[5] Due to the harsh living conditions of the valley (intense heat, distant location) and other obstacles, this group abandoned the kibbutz and the village was returned to the Israel Defense Forces Nahal brigade. In 1997, a new group organized by the Amana settlement organization and moved to resettle Hemdat.[5] This group was made up of students at the Bnei David Mechina pre-military yeshiva academy in Eli and one family named Shitrit.[5]
Education
Three months after the re-founding of the village, a religious pre-military academy was established called Hemdat Yehuda.[citation needed]
Hemdat does not have a homogeneous population and it is made up of a mixed group of families from different Jewish ethnic backgrounds and locations in Israel.[citation needed] There is one central synagogue that serves the village, as well as religious services at the academy.[citation needed]
