El Matan (Hebrew: אל מתן, lit. Towards Matan or God's Gift) is an Israeli outpost in the West Bank, located around a kilometer south (and inside the official boundaries) of Ma'ale Shomron, under the jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council. The outpost was established in 2000 allegedly on state lands by a group of religious youths from nearby settlements (Karnei Shomron and Ma'ale Shomron).[1] It is home to an estimated population of 48 (2008),[2] around 16 families and a small number of singles, both religious and non-religious Jews. El Matan is considered an unauthorized outpost by the Israeli government and is illegal under Israeli law.[3] The international community does not differentiate between Israeli outposts and Israeli settlements authorized by the Israeli government.[4] The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, though the Israeli government disputes this.[5][6]
References
|
|---|
| | Moshavim | |
|---|
| | Communal villages | |
|---|
| | Other villages | |
|---|
| | Outposts | |
|---|
|