Kiryat Netafim

Kiryat Netafim
קִרְיַת נְטָפִים
Kiryat Netafim is located in the Northern West Bank
Kiryat Netafim
Kiryat Netafim
Coordinates: 32°6′58″N 35°6′49″E / 32.11611°N 35.11361°E / 32.11611; 35.11361
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilShomron
RegionWest Bank
AffiliationHapoel HaMizrachi
Founded1986
Founded byNahal
Population
 (2022)[1]
1,009

Kiryat Netafim (Hebrew: קִרְיַת נְטָפִים, Arabic: كريات نتافيم) is an Israeli settlement located in the northern West Bank, about 8 km west of the city Ariel. Organised as a community settlement, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council. As of 2022, it had a population of 1,009.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[2]

History

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Kiryat Netafim was founded in June 1986 by a group of Orthodox Yemenite Jews. It was established on land belonging to the Palestinian villages of Qarawat Bani Hassan,[3][4] and Haris.[5] The settlement is part of a chain of settlements built along the Trans-Samaria Highway and adjacent to the Barkan Industrial Park. It is named after a Bible verse: "New wine will drip from the mountains." (Amos 9:13). Since its founding, Kiryat Netafim has diversified, welcoming families from various different backgrounds.[6]

In 2009, the organisation Peace Now petitioned the Israeli High Court, and laid a complaint against the then Defence Minister Ehud Barak, to order the demolition of 14 illegal structures built without authorization on public and private Palestinian land. The Defence ministry replied given approval to construction plans that would legalize the 14 structures. An interim injunction from the High Court on October 1 prohibited construction until the legal issues were settled. A further request was made on December 29 to find the settlers guilty of contempt for breaching the injunction to stop building. The state admitted the fact but requested the breach be ignored because the state had limited resources to regulate settlements and different priorities.[7][8][9]

In November 2014, Netafim began bulldozing and clearing additional Qarawat Bani Hassan territory, under the protection of IDF troops, in what appeared to be an effort to extend the settlement.[4]

The community is located near of several archaeological sites.

Education

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The settlement has two kindergartens and one nursery.

References

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  1. ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. ^ Qarawat Bani Hassan Town Profile, ARIJ, p. 17
  4. ^ a b 'Israeli settlers level Palestinian land west of Salfit,' Archived 2014-12-07 at the Wayback Machine Ma'an News Agency 9 November 2014.
  5. ^ Haris Village Profile, p. 17
  6. ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Amos 9:13 - New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
  7. ^ Aviad Glickman, 'Petition: Raze 15 structures in Kiryat Netafim settlement,' Archived 2012-10-24 at the Wayback Machine Ynet 27 August 2009.
  8. ^ 'Israel approves new building plan for West Bank settlement,' Archived 2017-02-20 at the Wayback MachineHaaretz December 28, 2009.
  9. ^ 'Suspect violation of interim injunction against construction, residency in settlement,' Jerusalem Post 13 July 2010.