Almon, Mateh Binyamin

Almon (Hebrew: עַלְמוֹן‎‎), also known as Anatot (Hebrew: עֲנָתוֹת‎‎), is a communal Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located near Jerusalem, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 808.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.^[1]

History

Anatot was established in 1982 by secular families with the help of the Amana organisation, and named Anatot after the Levite city of Anathoth mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah 1:1. It later adopted the name Almon after the nearby Arab village of 'Ilmit.

Land dispute

According to one Ta'ayush source, the settlement is built on the property of an Israeli Arab citizen, Abu Salah al Rifai.^[2] Anatot settlers claim that they have been subject to harassment by activists, while Ta'ayush members and other activists claim they suffered attacks by large numbers of settlers from the township while trying to assist a local Palestinian in protecting his property.^[3][4]

Geography

Almon is located on a hill near the ruins of the Hariton Temple and the Prat Stream, between Jerusalem, (Pisgat Ze'ev), and Ma'ale Adumim/Kfar Adumim. It is close to the Palestinian villages 'Anata and Hizma.

Transport

Almon is connected to Jerusalem and Highway 1 via Road 437. Buses are the only form of public transport available, entering the village four times per workday.

Legal status

The international community considers Israeli settlements to violate the Fourth Geneva Convention's prohibition on the transfer of an occupying power's civilian population into occupied territory.^[5] Israel disputes that the Fourth Geneva Convention applies to the Palestinian territories as they had not been legally held by a sovereign prior to Israel taking control of them. This view has been rejected by the International Court of Justice and the International Committee of the Red Cross.^[6]

References

1. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1682640.stm. Retrieved 27 September 2011. 
2. ^ Mairav Zonszein 23 Israelis and Palestinians injured – some including broken bones and bloody gashes – in an attack by settlers from the settlement of Anatot just outside Jerusalem, West Bank, in 972 magazine, 30 September 2011 reprinted in Jfjfp.
3. ^ Yair Altman Leftists, settlers clash near Jerusalem, in Ynet 1 October 2011.
4. ^ Eyal Raz, Israel police turned a blind eye to a lynching, Haaretz 4 October, 2011.
5. ^ The settlers' struggle BBC News. 19 December 2003
6. ^ Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory International Court of Justice, 9 July 2004. pp. 44-45

External links

• Anatot winery : Israeli wine from anatot village
• Photos of Anatot and Ein Prat area