Binyamina-Giv'at Ada בנימינה-גבעת עדה | |
|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | Binyamína – Gibˁat ʕada |
 View of Binyamina-Giv'at Ada | |
  Binyamina-Giv'at Ada  Binyamina-Giv'at Ada | |
| Coordinates:32°31′20″N34°56′42″E / 32.52222°N 34.94500°E /32.52222; 34.94500 | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District |  Haifa |
| Founded | 2003 – merger |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | Gil Hanania[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[2] | |
• Total | 15,408 |
| • Density | 600/km2 (1,550/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity | |
| • Jews and others | 99.8% |
| • Arabs | 0.2% |
Binyamina-Giv'at Ada (Hebrew:בנימינה-גבעת עדה) is atown in theHaifa District in northernIsrael. It is the result of the 2003 merger between the two local councils of Binyamina and Giv'at Ada. In 2022, its joint population was 15,634.[3] Before the merger, the population of Binyamina was 6,607.
Binyamina was founded in 1922. At first, the proposed name for theMoshava was "Tel Binyamin", but as the nearby British railway station was calledBinyamina railway station, which itself was named after the BaronEdmond Benjamin James de Rothschild, the inhabitants chose to call it Binyamina.[4] Binyamina was founded onPICA land by members of theThird Aliyah and people from the neighboringZikhron Ya'akov. According to acensus conducted in 1922 by theBritish Mandate authorities, Binyamina had a population of 153 inhabitants, consisting of 137 Jews, 13 Muslims and 7 Christians.[5] In 1946 theBetarTower and Stockade settlement (which was relocated multiple times) "Nahalat Jabotinsky", named afterZe'ev Jabotinsky became a part of the Binyamina municipality.[6][7][8] The original economy of the village was citrus-based and a jasmine refining factory for the French perfume industry.[9] In 1947, Binyamina had a population of 2000.[10]
Giv'at Ada, 'Ada Heights', named for Baron Edmond James de Rothschild's wifeAdelheid/Adélaïde (Ada), was established in 1903 by eight families fromZikhron Ya'akov.[11] Giv'at Ada was established as an agricultural Moshava. The main farming branches were field crops and vegetables, and later grapes.[11]
The two local councils, Binyamina and Givat Ada, were merged into one authority as part of an initiative by theMinistry of the Interior regarding the unification of local authorities in Israel. The unification was carried out in 2003 as part of the plan for the revival of the Israeli economy. From the beginning, there was an intention to unite the three settlements into one authority:Zichron Ya'akov, Binyamina, and Givat Ada.[12] Finally it was decided in the Knesset on July 31, 2003, to unify Binyamina and Givat Ada only.[13]
On 13 October 2024, aHezbollah drone attacked a military base of theGolani Brigade near the town, killing 4IDF personnel and injuring 67 people, with several critically wounded.[14]
The area is home to both theBinyamina Winery, producers of 2.8 million bottles of wine annually, and theTishbi Winery, founded by Yonathan Tishbi in 1985. As of 2009, Tishbi produced approximately one million bottles per year.[15][16] Plans have been drawn up to build a 150-acre (0.61 km2) wine park on the slopes between Binyamina and Zichron Ya'akov to promote wine tourism in Israel.[17]
The Jabotinsky Park at Shuni containsa Roman theatre with an adjacent semicircular pool used during theGraeco-Syrian paganMaiumas water festival ofRoman Syria,[18] and buildings of the former Arab Palestinian hamlet ofKhirbat al-Shuna.
The ancient village of Kefar Shumi or Shami stood close to the springs at the foot of theCarmel ridge whose waters were sent toCaesarea Maritima byaqueduct.[19] In 1902, it was known in Arabic as Shuni and Mayumas.[19]
The busyIsrael RailwaysBinyamina Railway Station is the last stop on the Binyamina-Tel Aviv suburban line and a transfer point on the Tel Aviv-Haifa intercity line, which makes it a transportation hub for the area. A direct non-stop train from Binyamina reaches Tel Aviv or Haifa in 30 minutes.
According to the data of theCentral Bureau of Statistics, as of the end of January 2023 (estimate), 16,343 residents live in Binyamina-Givat Ada (124th place in the ranking of local authorities in Israel). The population is growing at an annual growth rate of 1.8%. The percentage of those who earned aBagrut certificate among 12th-grade students in the year 2020-2021 was 88.1%. The average monthly salary of an employee during the year 2019 was 13,552 NIS (national average: 9,745 NIS).[20]
Binyamina is the birthplace of the Israeli songwriterEhud Manor,[21] and is referenced in a number of his songs. It is also the birthplace of the 12th Israeli Prime MinisterEhud Olmert, and basketball playerAdi Gordon.[22] Amongst its current residents are famous TV actor Lior Halfon,[23] formerMaccabi Haifa F.C. Maor Buzaglo[24]
Binyamina-Giv'at Ada istwinned with:
