Kokhav Ya'ir-Tsur Yig'al כוכב יאיר צור יגאל | |
|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | K̇ŵkab Yåʾiyr Ṣẇr Yig°ʾål |
| • Also spelled | Kochav Yair (unofficial) |
 View of Kokhav Ya'ir–Tzur Yig'al | |
  Kokhav Ya'ir-Tsur Yig'al  Kokhav Ya'ir-Tsur Yig'al | |
| Coordinates:32°13′14″N34°59′38″E / 32.22056°N 34.99389°E /32.22056; 34.99389 | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Central |
| Subdistrict | Petah Tikva |
| Founded | 1986[1] |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | Hilla Ben-HaRosh Ḥakmon |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,072dunams (3.072 km2; 1.186 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | |
• Total | 9,279 |
| • Density | 3,021/km2 (7,823/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | Named forAbraham "Yair" Stern |
| Website | www.kyair.org.il |
Kokhav Ya'ir–Tsur Yig'al (Hebrew:כּוֹכַב יָאִיר צוּר יִגְאָל), is atown in theCentral District ofIsrael. Kokhav Ya'ir and the neighboring town of Tzur Yig'al merged in November 2003. In 2023 it had a population of 9,279.[2]
Kokhav Ya'ir was established in 1981 by 15 families living in temporary quarters. Two years later, work began on infrastructure for a permanent town. In 1986, 550 families moved into permanent housing and the town was officially founded.[1]
Kokhav Ya'ir (literal translation:"A Star Will Shine" or"Star of Ya'ir") was named forAvraham Stern, who went by the aliasYa'ir. He was the founder and leader of theLehi group, a militant Jewish underground active during theBritish Mandate of Palestine. The name is constructed out of two words:
Tsur Yig'al (literal translation:"A Rock Will Salvage" or"Rock of Yig'al") was named for IsraeliKnesset memberYigal Cohen.[3] The name is constructed out of two words:
Kokhav Ya'ir is located approximately 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north-north-east of the city ofKfar Saba and 95 metersabove sea level.[citation needed] Neighboring the municipality on its south-west border is kibbutzEyal, approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north-west is the Israeli Arab city ofTira and approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) south is the Palestinian Authority governed city ofQalqilyah.
The Sapir Lookout in Kokhav Ya'ir attractsbird watchers who come to observe the semi-annual migration of many species of birds.[citation needed]
Kokhav Ya'ir currently has four schools, two secularelementary schools ('Keshet' and 'Nof Tzurim'), one religious elementary school ('Dekel') and onemiddle school ('Ramon', named after theAstronautIlan Ramon). After finishing middle school students are usually directed tohighschools inRa'anana andKfar Saba andHerzliya.[3]
Kokhav Ya'ir's local basketball team, Elitzur Kokhav Ya'ir, has been a member of the Israel National Basketball League since 2008.[citation needed]
Kokhav Ya'ir's country club from 2010 to 2017 refused membership toIsraeli Arabs. After a petition fromTira, an Arab village nearby, the club decided to “sanitize” its racist policy by restricting membership to Kokhav Ya'ir–Tzur Yig'al's residents. A member of thelocal council said: “What drives people from the club isn’t the price, but the Arabs. We came to live in a community. Whether we’re racist or not, it doesn’t matter. The fact is that residents are leaving the community center because of the Arab children. It’s not clear why we can’t express our opinion.” The club is partially funded by the Israeli government.[4]
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