Na'aran
Na'aran is located in the Central West Bank
Na'aran
Na'aran
Coordinates: 31°58′1″N 35°27′16″E / 31.96694°N 35.45444°E / 31.96694; 35.45444
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilBik'at HaYarden
RegionWest Bank
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded18 June 1971
Founded byNahal
Population
 (2021)[1]
104
Websitewww.naaran.org

Na'aran (Hebrew: נערן), formerly known as Niran (נִירָן‎) is an Israeli settlement organized as a kibbutz in the West Bank.[2] Located in Area C of the Jordan Valley near Jericho,[2] it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council. In 2021 it had a population of 104.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3]

Etymology

The settlement was originally named Niran after the biblical city of Naaran. In 2018 it was renamed Na'aran.

History

The settlement was established on 18 June 1971 under the name Niran as a Nahal settlement by the Nahal Command in collaboration with the Agricultural Settlement Department of the Jewish Agency on land prepared by the Jewish National Fund.[4] According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated 497 dunams of land from the Palestinian village of Al-Auja in order to construct the settlement.[5] Niran began its existence as "a tented outpost of a few dozen persons."[4] The barren conditions required that soil be carried up from surrounding valleys to make agriculture viable.[4] During its time as a military outpost, it was used to prevent armed infiltration from Jordan and as a disciplinary assignment for delinquent Israeli soldiers.[4] It was demilitarized and converted to a civilian kibbutz in 1977.[6]

Culture

The kibbutz organizes workshops on Zionism, Judaism and Israeli society. Some members of the kibbutz work in the date groves or at the local plastics factory, P.V.Ran, which manufactures packaging and wrappings for food products in compliance with international standards.[7][8][9]

Archaeological findings

The ruins of a 6th-century synagogue were discovered in Naaran, a short distance from the kibbutz.[10] The site contains an ancient mosaic and archeological treasures and attracts both worshippers and pilgrims.[11] In May 2012, the ancient synagogue was vandalized with graffiti that included swastikas and Palestinian flags.[11]

Date orchards in Na'aran

References

  1. ↑ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 Niran Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council
  3. ↑ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bowden, Tom (1976-06-01). Army in the Service of the State. Transaction Publishers. pp. 151–52. ISBN 9780878552191.
  5. ↑ Al 'Auja Town Profile p. 19, ARIJ
  6. ↑ MA'AN Development Center (2012-04-07), Parallel Realities: Israeli Settlements and Palestinian Communities in the Jordan Valley
  7. ↑ Heruti-Sover, Tali (7 June 2006). קיבוץ מודל 2006: משק חינוכי וקהילה אקולוגית [Kibbutz model 2006: educational farm and ecological community]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2011. היום חיים במקום כ-50 חברים שהגיעו עם גרעיני הנח"ל הראשונים שיישבו את הקיבוץ, וכ-30 חברי גרעין חדשים.
  8. ↑ מפעלים [Factories, N–Z] (in Hebrew). Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (Israel). Retrieved 4 July 2011. קיבוץ נערן: פי.וי.רן
  9. ↑ "About Us". P.V.Ran. Retrieved 4 July 2011. P.V.Ran offers a wide range of packaging films for the industry and for household users.
  10. ↑ "נערן" [Na'aran]. Jordan Valley Regional Council. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 4 July 2011. בקרבת מקום, שרידי בית כנסת עתיק מהמאה השישית.
  11. 1 2 Itamar Fleishman (25 May 2012). "Swastikas sprayed on ancient synagogue near Jericho". Ynetnews.
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