Giv'at Ze'ev
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|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | Gibˁat Zˀeb |
| • Also spelled | Givat Zeev (unofficial) |
 View from the wadi | |
  Giv'at Ze'ev | |
| Coordinates:31°51′51″N35°10′11″E / 31.86417°N 35.16972°E /31.86417; 35.16972 | |
| Region | West Bank |
| District | Judea and Samaria Area |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | Yossi Avrahami |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,841 dunams (4.841 km2 or 1.869 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[1] | |
• Total | 21,097 |
| • Density | 4,400/km2 (11,000/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | Zeev's Hill (also: Wolf Hill) |
| Website | www |
Giv'at Ze'ev (Hebrew:גִּבְעַת זְאֵב) is an urbanIsraeli settlement[2] in theWest Bank, five kilometers northwest ofJerusalem. The settlement was founded in 1977 on the site of the abandoned Jordanian military camp, adjacent to the site of ancientGibeon. While it lies within the borders of theMatte Binyamin Regional Council, it is a separate municipal entity. In 2022 it had a population of 21,097.
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bankillegal under international law,[3] but the Israeli government disputes this.[4][5]
According to theApplied Research Institute–Jerusalem, Israel hasconfiscated land from three nearbyPalestinian villages to construct Giv'at Ze'ev:
It was named afterZe'ev Jabotinsky, and declared a local council in 1983.[citation needed] Palestinians contend that under the expropriation maps contained in military orders, the road connecting it to Jerusalem, though ostensibly designed to "facilitate Palestinian movement", actually would confiscate 15 square kilometers of prime agricultural land, on which the livelihoods of 24,000 Palestinians depend to enable the programmed development of this settlement bloc.[10]
In 1996 a program of expansion with new housing units and an envisaged 20,000 new settlers was approved, to be constructed on land confiscated from the Palestinian villages ofBeitunia,Biddu, andJib, in what Palestinians call Wadi Salman, but which the Israelis have renamed Ha'ayalot valley.[2] Twice in successive years further areas amounting to 250 acres were confiscated from Beitunia and Jib to build an additional 11,550 units.[11] On March 9, 2008, Prime MinisterEhud Olmert approved the construction of 750 new homes in Giv'at Ze'ev under the Agan Ha'ayalot project. This approval stands in contrast to Olmert's policy of freezing new permits for expansion within existing settlements. Olmert argued that the project was first approved in 1999, but stopped in 2000, as a result of theSecond Intifada. The approval was criticized by thePalestinian Authority, US Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice, and the European Union. On the political right, theShas party took credit for pressuring Olmert to approve the project.[12]
Both the Ayelet HaShahar synagogue and yeshiva built on private Palestinian land owned by the Allatif family of the nearby Palestinian township ofJib, are slated to be demolished by March 2014, after the prosecutor's office determined that the putative documents of land purchase were forgeries.[13]
Giv'at Ze'ev has four elementary schools and one junior high school. There are two youth movement branches: theIsraeli Scouts (Arava tribe) andBnei Akiva.
It is located just offHighway 443, affording easy access to both Jerusalem and theTel Aviv area. It is connected to Jerusalem byEgged Ta'avura bus routes 131, 132, 133, 134 and to Tel Aviv byEgged bus number 471.The loop circling Giv'at Ze'ev effectively annexes over 18 square miles of Palestinian land.[14] The town is patrolled by Mishmeret Ha'gvul and a local security force, and is secured by a security fence.[citation needed] Plans are underway to set a guard post near the entrance to route 443 (currently, the road is closed off by a security fence).[citation needed]
The religious population in mixed and includesChardal,Dati Leumi,Charedi and Secular. There are about 20 orthodox synagogues in the town, with more expected to be built as the community expands.
Giv'at Ze'ev is the center of theKarlin-StolinChasidim and one of the town's most notable residents is the StolinerRebbeBoruch Yaakov Meir Shochet. There is also aChabad Lubavitch community there as well.[15]
Ramat Givat Zeev is a new section that was being developed in 2013.[16] The 400 housing units include both single-family houses and multi-family apartment buildings.[17] The development is being marketed towards English-speaking religious Jews makingAliyah to Israel.[18]
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