Odem (Hebrew: אֹדֶם or אודם) is an Israeli settlement, moshav shitufi, situated in the northern part of the Golan Heights. It is located on Mount Odem, at a height of 1,090 meters (3,580 ft) above sea level, making it the second-highest town in Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. It is surrounded by the Odem Forest. Odem means ruby and signifies the red colour. In this case it refers to the color of the rocks of Mount Odem, an extinct volcano. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[1]
The Israeli government approved the establishment of the settlement in 1975, and a group of young people occupied an abandoned Syrian military base nearby. Most of these original settlers left, however, because of the frigid temperatures and strong winds. Those that remained were joined in 1981 by a new group, and the permanent settlement was established. The population was about 150 in 1993, about one-third of them children. Odem falls under the municipal jurisdiction of the Golan Regional Council.
The chief industries are a factory that manufactures plastic for furniture and an optics factory that manufactures protective lenses and safety goggles. Odem Mountain Winery is also located there.
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