Afik | |
Hebrew | ืึฒืคึดืืง |
Name meaning | lit. channel, riverbed, derives from the Arab name Fiq and the ancient Biblical city Afeq.[1] |
Founded | 1972[2] |
Council | Golan Regional Council |
Region | Golan Heights |
Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
Coordinates | |
Population | 215 (2006) |
Afik
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Afik (Hebrew: ืึฒืคึดืืงโโ) is an Israeli settlement and a kibbutz, and the first Jewish locale established in the Golan Heights after the Six Day War. Affiliated with Ihud HaKvutzot VeHaKibbutzim, it was established near the site of the abandoned Syrian village named Fiq on 8 May 1972.[3][4][5] It falls under the municipal jurisdiction of the Golan Regional Council, and the Fik Airfield is located nearby.
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[6] In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, although this declaration is not recognized by the international community and was ruled null and void by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 497. There are multiple locations called Aphek in the Bible and the location of the kibbutz is believed to be adjacent to the ruins of the ancient Aphek mentioned in the Books of Kings(1 Kings 20:26) which tells how King Ahab of Israel defeated Ben-Hadad I of Damascus [7] and the prophet Elisha foretold that King Jehoash of Israel would defeat Ben-Hadad III of Damascus.[8][9]
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