Afula
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| Afula | ||
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| Hebrew | עֲפֻלָּה | |
| (Standard) | ʻAfulla | |
| Arabic | العفولة | |
| Government | City | |
| District | North | |
| Population | 38,900 (2004) | |
| Jurisdiction | 28,600 dunams (28.6 km²) | |
Afula (Hebrew: עֲפֻלָּה, עפולה; Arabic: العفولة, al-ʻAfūlaḧ) is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. According to provisional data by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), in 2004 the city had a total population of 38,900.
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[edit] History
Located in the lower Galilee region, Afula is roughly halfway between Jenin and Nazareth. It lies on the site of Biblical Ofel, the hometown of Gideon. It is mentioned in the Book of Kings (2 Kings 5, 24) in connection with Elisha and the disciple of Elijah, who lived in the vicinity.
The modern community of Afula was founded in 1925 by the American Zionist Commonwealth. Near the community stood the Arab village of Al-Fulah, which was founded by Saladin. This village disbanded by the turn of the century. At the time, the community was served by the Jezreel Valley railroad, which was abandoned during the War of Independence.
Because of Afula’s proximity to the West Bank, it has been a target for terrorists during the Oslo peace process and the second Intifada. On April 6, 1994, a car bombing carried out by Hamas in the center of Afula killed five people. Afula also was the target of a suicide attack on a bus May 5, 2002, in which one person died several people were injured at Afula’s central bus station. On May 19, 2003, Afula’s Amakim Mall was bombed, killing three and wounding 70. This attack was carried out by Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Fatah movement’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
On July 17, 2006, Hezbollah fired Katyusha rockets at the Israeli city of Afula. Located in the Jezreel Valley, Afula is 31 miles south of the Lebanese border, and 28 miles southeast of Haifa. The bombing represents one the southernmost rocket attacks on Israel from Lebanon. Six people were treated for shock as a result of the bombing. On July 28, a rocket landed causing a fire. The Katyusha carried 100 kilograms of explosives.
Afula is famous for producing the best cauliflower (Hebrew: כְּרוּבִית) in all of Israel.
[edit] Demographics
According to CBS, in 2001 the ethnic makeup of the city was 99.4% Jewish and other non-Arabs, without significant Arab population. In 2001 there were 262 immigrant settlers. There were 18,500 males and 19,900 females. The population of the city was spread out with 34.3% 19 years of age or younger, 15.8% between 20 and 29, 17.5% between 30 and 44, 16.9% from 45 to 59, 4.0% from 60 to 64, and 11.5% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was 0.9%. See Population groups in Israel.
[edit] Income
According to CBS, as of 2000, in the city there were 13,762 salaried workers and 887 are self-employed. The mean monthly wage in 2000 for a salaried worker in the city is ILS 4,723, a real change of 6.4% over the course of 2000. Salaried males have a mean monthly wage of ILS 5,913 (a real change of 8.6%) versus ILS 3,541 for females (a real change of 2.0%). The mean income for the self-employed is 6,477. There are 962 people who receive unemployment benefits and 3,938 people who receive an income guarantee.
[edit] Education
According to CBS, there are 24 schools and 8,688 students in the city. They are spread out as 16 elementary schools and 3,814 elementary school students, and 12 high schools and 4,874 high school students. 52.3% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.
[edit] Twin cities
[edit] External links
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| Cities | Afula | Acre (Akko) | Bet She'an | Karmiel | Kiryat Shmona | Ma'alot-Tarshiha | Migdal HaEmek | Nahariya | Nazareth | Nazareth Illit | Safed | Sakhnin | Shagor | Shefa-'Amr (Shfar'am) | Tamra | Tiberias |  |
| Local councils | Abu Sinan | Ajar | Arrabe | Basmat Tiv'on | Beit Jann | Bir al-Maksur | Bu'eine Nujeidat | Buq'ata | Deir Hanna | Dvorya | Eilabun | Ein Knaya | Ein Mahal | Fassuta | Ghajar | Hurfeish | Hazor HaGelilit | I'billin | Iksal | Ilut | Jadida Makar | Julis | Ka'abiyye-Tabbash-Hajajre | Kabul | Kafar Kanna | Kaokab Abu al-Hija | Katzrin | Kfar Kama | Kfar Manga | Kfar Tavor | Kfar Vradim | Kfar Yasif | Kineret | Kisra-Sumei | Maghar | Ma'ilya | Majdal Shams | Mas'ada | Mashhad | Mazra'a | Metula | Mevo Hama | Migdal | Nahf | Peki'in | Ra'ama | Reineh | Ramat Yeshi | Rosh Pinna | Sajur | Sha'ab | Shelomi | Shibli-Umm al-Janam | Tuba-Zangariyye | Tur'an | Yafi'a | Yanuh-Jat | Yavne'el | Yesod HaMa'ala | Yirka | Zarzir | |
| Regional councils | Al-Batuf | Bet Shean Valley | Bustan al-Marj | Northern Jordan Valley (Emek Hayarden) | Gilboa | Golan | Jezreel Valley | Lower Galilee | Upper Galilee | Ma'ale Yosef | Mateh Asher | Megiddo | Merom HaGalil | Mevo'ot HaHermon | Misgav | |
