Manara
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 Manara cable car | |
  Manara  Manara | |
| Coordinates:33°11′45″N35°32′40″E / 33.19583°N 35.54444°E /33.19583; 35.54444 | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Council | Upper Galilee |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Founded | 1943 |
| Founded by | German andPolish Jews and HaNoar HaOved members |
| Population (2023)[1] | 311 |
| Website | manara.co.il |
Manara (Hebrew:מנרה) is akibbutz in northernIsrael. Located in theNaftali Mountains of theUpper Galilee, near theLebanese border and the city ofKiryat Shmona, it falls under the jurisdiction ofUpper Galilee Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 311.[1]
The site was formerly inhabited by Arabs, when it was known as Khirbet el-Menarah, 'the Ruin of the Lighthouse'.[2] In 1881, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it as "ruins of a modern Arab village, several rock-cutcisterns, and one wine-press".[3]
In the 1940s, 2538 dunams of land were purchased by theJewish National Fund from Asa'ad Bey Khuri ofBeirut.[4]
Manara was established in 1943 by members of theHaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed youth group and young immigrants fromGermany andPoland.Leon Uris used an incident from the history of the kibbutz in his novel, Exodus. The scene of the night hike with the children from the fictional kibbutz Gan Dafna as it faced attack, was based on the war-time transport of the children of kibbutz Manara from the mountaintop to what was presumed to be a safer place on the valley floor.[5] Former Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabin's sister Rachel Rabin-Ya'akov was a founding member.[6]
In June 1948 the kibbutz requested land from the newly depopulatedPalestinian Arab village ofQadas, as it was "suitable for winter crops."[7]
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The Manara bypass project was completed in 2005 to provide safe access to the kibbutz. Manara is 888 metres above sea level and is a rare style for a kibbutz, with apartments providing the accommodation, due to the limited space.[citation needed][clarification needed]
During thewar triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas onslaught, northern Israeli border communities, including Manara, faced targeted attacks byHezbollah and Palestinian factions based inSouthern Lebanon and were evacuated.[8] On October 19 2023, at least twoanti-tank missiles were fired from Lebanese territory, hitting Manara without causing any casualties.[9]
By August 2025, 75% of the kibbutz buildings and infrastructure had been destroyed by rockets and drones during the 14-month war with Hezbollah.[10] Of the 260 residents of Manara, only 40% had returned, far less than the c. 74% returnees counted over the entire northern area where the population had been evacuated during the war.[10] A group of 10 demobilised IDF soldiers who had fought in the north started an initiative, "Shuvu Manara" ('Back to Manara"), whose goal was to rebuild the kibbutz, motivate members to return, and join them in living there.[10] There was an expectation that 60-70% of the initial residents would return by the end of 2025.[10]
Manara's main industries are agriculture (primarily cotton fields,apples andchickens),tourism to the scenic cliffs via itscable car descending from the Upper Manara Cliff down toKiryat Shmona in the valley below,[11] and a technicalglass manufacturing plant.[12]
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