Hefer Valley Regional Council
Encyclopedia
The Hefer Valley Regional Council is a regional council
in the Hefer Valley region of central
Israel
.
The council covers an area adjacent to Hadera
in the north, to Netanya
in the south, to the Mediterranean
in the west and to Tulkarm
and the Green Line
in the east. It has a population of about 35,000 residents.
The Regional Council offices are located near Kfar Monash
, at the Ruppin junction, next to the Ruppin Academic Center.
, who was in charge of land purchase for the Jewish National Fund. In 1927 Yehoshua Hankin resolved the complex legal issues involved in purchasing the land, and signed an agreement for the purchase of the Hefer Valley. The only difficulty was that the Jewish National Fund
did not have sufficient funds to pay the sum needed for redeeming the land.
The chairman of the JNF, Menachem Ushishkin, set out on a fundraising trip to Canada
, returning with $300,000 and undertakings to bring it up to a million, the sum required to purchase the Hefer Valley over a period of seven years. At the Zionist Congress held in Zurich
in 1929, Ushishkin announced that Emek Hefer was now in Jewish hands.
A group of 30 young members of the "Vitkin" and "Haemek" movements settled in the newly purchased valley. They moved in to an abandoned building and began draining the swamps and preparing the land for agriculture.
In April 1933, they built their first houses on Kfar Vitkin
, in the heart of the valley. In 1931, a group from the Hashomer Hatzair
movement in Hadera
established the settlement of Ein HaHoresh
, planting the first citrus grove.
A company called "Yachin" prepared plantations for settlers from abroad. Another group from the Kibbutz HaMeuhad
movement, founded Givat Haim
in 1932, while the organization of demobilized soldiers from the Jewish Brigade
set up the settlement of Avihayil
.
Regional council (Israel)
Regional councils are one of the three types of local government entities found in Israel, with the other two being cities and local councils. As of 2003, there were 53 regional councils in Israel, usually responsible for governing a number of settlements spread across rural areas...
in the Hefer Valley region of central
Center District (Israel)
The Central District of Israel is one of six administrative districts, including most of the Sharon region. The district capital is Ramla. It is further divided into 4 sub-districts: Petah Tikva, Ramla, Sharon and Rehovot. The district's largest city is Rishon LeZion. Its population as of 2008 was...
Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
The council covers an area adjacent to Hadera
Hadera
Hadera is a city located in the Haifa District of Israel approximately from the major cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. The city is located along of the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain...
in the north, to Netanya
Netanya
Netanya is a city in the Northern Centre District of Israel, and is the capital of the surrounding Sharon plain. It is located north of Tel Aviv, and south of Haifa between the 'Poleg' stream and Wingate Institute in the south and the 'Avichail' stream in the north.Its of beaches have made the...
in the south, to the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
in the west and to Tulkarm
Tulkarm
Tulkarem or Tulkarm is a Palestinian city in the northern Samarian mountain range in the Tulkarm Governorate in the extreme northwestern West Bank adjacent to the Netanya and Haifa districts to the west, the Nablus and Jenin Districts to the east...
and the Green Line
Green Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
in the east. It has a population of about 35,000 residents.
The Regional Council offices are located near Kfar Monash
Kfar Monash
Kfar Monash is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the northern part of the Sharon plain and covering 2,700 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 785....
, at the Ruppin junction, next to the Ruppin Academic Center.
History
In the early 1900s, a local midwife, Olga Hankin, reported information about the economic state of the families in the region to her husband, Yehoshua HankinYehoshua Hankin
Yehoshua Hankin was a Zionist activist who was responsible for most of the major land purchases of the World Zionist Organization in Ottoman Palestine....
, who was in charge of land purchase for the Jewish National Fund. In 1927 Yehoshua Hankin resolved the complex legal issues involved in purchasing the land, and signed an agreement for the purchase of the Hefer Valley. The only difficulty was that the Jewish National Fund
Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund was founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine for Jewish settlement. The JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organisation...
did not have sufficient funds to pay the sum needed for redeeming the land.
The chairman of the JNF, Menachem Ushishkin, set out on a fundraising trip to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, returning with $300,000 and undertakings to bring it up to a million, the sum required to purchase the Hefer Valley over a period of seven years. At the Zionist Congress held in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
in 1929, Ushishkin announced that Emek Hefer was now in Jewish hands.
A group of 30 young members of the "Vitkin" and "Haemek" movements settled in the newly purchased valley. They moved in to an abandoned building and began draining the swamps and preparing the land for agriculture.
In April 1933, they built their first houses on Kfar Vitkin
Kfar Vitkin
Kfar Vitkin is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council and was the first Jewish settlement in the valley. In 2007 it had a population of 1,700....
, in the heart of the valley. In 1931, a group from the Hashomer Hatzair
Hashomer Hatzair
Hashomer Hatzair is a Socialist–Zionist youth movement founded in 1913 in Galicia, Austria-Hungary, and was also the name of the group's political party in the Yishuv in the pre-1948 British Mandate of Palestine...
movement in Hadera
Hadera
Hadera is a city located in the Haifa District of Israel approximately from the major cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. The city is located along of the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain...
established the settlement of Ein HaHoresh
Ein HaHoresh
Ein HaHoresh is a kibbutz in central Israel within the jurisdiction of the Hefer Valley Regional Council.It was founded in November of 1931 by Hashomer Hatzair members from Eastern Europe who reclaimed the land...
, planting the first citrus grove.
A company called "Yachin" prepared plantations for settlers from abroad. Another group from the Kibbutz HaMeuhad
Kibbutz Movement
The Kibbutz Movement is the largest settlement movement for kibbutzim in Israel. It was formed in 1999 by a partial merger of the United Kibbutz Movement and Kibbutz Artzi.-United Kibbutz Movement:...
movement, founded Givat Haim
Givat Haim
Givat Haim was a kibbutz located around 5 kilometres south of Hadera in Israel. Founded in 1932 by European immigrants, it was originally called Kibbutz Gimel, but was later renamed in honour of Haim Arlosoroff, who was assassinated in 1933....
in 1932, while the organization of demobilized soldiers from the Jewish Brigade
Jewish Brigade
The Jewish Infantry Brigade Group was a military formation of the British Army that served in Europe during the Second World War. The brigade was formed in late 1944, and its personnel fought the Germans in Italy...
set up the settlement of Avihayil
Avihayil
Avihayil is a moshav in central Israel. Located to the north-east of Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,200....
.
Kibbutzim
- BahanBahanBahan is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located near Bat Hefer, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 260....
- Ein HaHoreshEin HaHoreshEin HaHoresh is a kibbutz in central Israel within the jurisdiction of the Hefer Valley Regional Council.It was founded in November of 1931 by Hashomer Hatzair members from Eastern Europe who reclaimed the land...
- Givat Haim (Ihud)
- Givat Haim (Meuhad)
- HaMa'apilHaMa'apilHaMa'apil is a kibbutz in central Israel. It is located near Ahituv within the jurisdiction of the Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 499....
- HaOgenHaOgenHaOgen is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain, it falls under the jurisdiction of Emek Heffer Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 543.The community was established in 1939 by immigrants from Czechoslovakia...
- Ma'abarot
- Mishmar HaSharonMishmar HaSharonMishmar HaSharon is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 459....
- Yad HanaYad HanaYad Hana is a former kibbutz in the Sharon near Route 57, North-central Israel. Covering 2,600 dunams, it is located within the Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 208...
Moshavim
- AhituvAhituvAhituv is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Hadera, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 813.The moshav was founded in 1951 by immigrants from Iran and Iraq...
- AvihayilAvihayilAvihayil is a moshav in central Israel. Located to the north-east of Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,200....
- Be'erotayimBe'erotayimBe'erotayim is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain and covering 3,500 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 666....
- Beit HaLeviBeit HaLeviBeit HaLevi is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 571....
- Beit HerutBeit HerutBeit Herut is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council...
- Beit Yanay
- Beit Yitzhak-Sha'ar HeferBeit Yitzhak-Sha'ar HeferBeit Yitzhak-Sha'ar Hefer is a moshav in central Israel Located in the Sharon plain near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007, Beit-Yitzhak-Sha'ar Hefer had a population of 1,700.-History:...
- Beitan AharonBeitan AharonBitan Aharon is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 213....
- BurgataBurgataBurgata is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain on Highway 57 between Netanya and Tulkarm, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 929....
- EliashivEliashivElyashiv is a moshav in central Israel. It is named after a high priest in the time of Nehemiah . Located in the Sharon plain, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 487....
- ElyakhinElyakhinElyakhin is a town in the Center District of Israel. It is located just south of Hadera and borders the Emek Hefer Regional Council. It is accessible by local road 5812. Elyakhin's population at the end of 2008 was 2,900, and its jurisdiction was 1,600 dunams.-History:Elyakhin was founded in 1950...
- Gan YoshiyaGan YoshiyaGan Yoshiya is a moshav in central Israel. Located near the Green Line in the Tulkarm area, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council...
- Geulei TeimanGeulei TeimanGeulei Teiman is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located near Hadera in the Sharon plain, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 298....
- Givat ShapiraGivat ShapiraGivat Shapira is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 218....
- Hadar AmHadar AmHadar Am is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council...
- HanielHaniel, IsraelHaniel is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain near Netanya and Kfar Yona, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 785....
- Havatzelet HaSharonHavatzelet HaSharonHavazzelet HaSharon is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain near Natanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 280....
- Herev Le'etHerev Le'etHerev Le'et is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain to the south of Hadera and covering 1,750 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 796....
- Hibat TzionHibat TzionHibat Tzion is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain near Hadera and covering 4,500 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 492....
- HoglaHogla, IsraelHogla is a moshav in central Israel. It is named after Hogla, who settled here in the district of the tribe of Menashe . Located in the coastal plain to the south of Hadera, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 574.The moshav was founded...
- Kfar HaimKfar HaimKfar Haim is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 500....
- Kfar HaroehKfar HaroehKfar Haroeh is a religious moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain between Hadera and Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2007 it had a population of 1,500....
- Kfar MonashKfar MonashKfar Monash is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the northern part of the Sharon plain and covering 2,700 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 785....
- Kfar VitkinKfar VitkinKfar Vitkin is a moshav in central Israel. Located near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council and was the first Jewish settlement in the valley. In 2007 it had a population of 1,700....
- Kfar YedidiaKfar YedidiaKfar Yedidia is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain and covering 3,000 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 589....
- MikhmoretMikhmoretMikhmoret is a moshav in central Israel. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea around nine kilometres north of Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council...
- OleshOleshOlesh is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the Sharon plain, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 796....
- OmetzOmetz, IsraelOmetz is a moshav in central Israel. Located in the coastal plain near Zemer, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council.The moshav was founded in 1949 by demobilised IDF soldiers from the 32nd Battalion of the Alexandroni Brigade...
Communal settlements
- Bat HenBat HenBat Hen is a communal settlement in central Israel. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 547....
- Bat HeferBat HeferBat Hefer is an Israeli communal settlement in the Sharon plain, east of Netanya and adjacent to two kibbutzim; Bahan and Yad Hana. The Palestinian city of Tulkarm lies to the southeast. It is named after "Hefer", an administrative district in this area with a district chief in the time of King...
- Beit HazonBeit HazonBeit Hazon is a neighbourhood of Kfar Haroeh in central Israel. The neighbourhood is generally regarded to be a communal settlement, but is not recognised as a separate entity by the local authority, Hefer Valley Regional Council....
- HofitHofitHofit is a communal settlement in central Israel. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea near Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 780....
- Shoshanat HaAmakimShoshanat HaAmakimShoshanat HaAmakim is a communal settlement in central Israel. Located to the north of Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 537....
- Tzukei YamTzukei YamTzukei Yam is a communal settlement in central Israel. Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the north of Netanya, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hefer Valley Regional Council, of which it is the westernmost community. In 2006 it had a population of 250.The village was established...