Yokneam Illit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yokneam (Hebrew: יקנעם‎) (also transliterated Yoqne'am) is a town in a scenic hilly region of the lower Galilee in northern Israel that has developed a reputation for itself as a technology center. The Yokneam Illit region is bordered by Highway 70. The town had a population of 18,200 at the end of 2005.

1 Location
2 History
3 Business center
4 Security threats
5 Sister cities
6 External links

[edit] Location

Yokneam is at the base of the Carmel Mountains and overlooks the Jezreel Valley. Yokneam is 21 kilometers (13 miles) from Haifa and 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Tel Aviv.

[edit] History

The town of Yokneam was built in the 1950s on the site of the ruins of ancient Yokneam, which was destroyed two thousand years ago.

The new settlers, many of whom were diaspora Jews from North Africa, restored ancient olive orchards on the Carmel Mountains and planted new olive trees in the Jezreel Valley.

[edit] Business center

The region of Yokneam Illit has the status of "National Priority Area A" as specified by the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investment, which enables "Approved Enterprises" locating in Yokneam Illit to enjoy the highest level of tax benefits or investment grants afforded by the Law.

In addition, companies choosing to locate in the region can apply for concessions in local taxes over a three year period from the Yokneam Local Authority.

[edit] Security threats

Yokneam has suffered from security threats related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In December, 2003, the Israel Defense Forces thwarted a planned suicide attack by two Palestinian terrorists that had planned to attack the ORT Alon Junior High School in Yokneam.