Megiddo, Israel
| Megiddo מְגִדּוֹ, מגידו | |
|---|---|
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  Megiddo | |
| Coordinates: 32°34′44″N 35°10′50″E / 32.57889°N 35.18056°ECoordinates: 32°34′44″N 35°10′50″E / 32.57889°N 35.18056°E | |
| District | North |
| Council | Megiddo |
| Region | Jezreel Valley |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founded by | Holocaust survivors |
| Population | 1,100 |
Megiddo (Hebrew: מְגִדּוֹ، Arabic المجیدو, is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Jezreel Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Megiddo Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 356.
The kibbutz was founded in 1949 by Holocaust survivors, partisans and fighters from Poland and Germany.[citation needed] It is located near Megiddo Junction, the intersection of highways 65 (from Hadera to Afula) and 66 (running from Haifa south to Judea and Samaria). The junction is the site of a bus terminal and a high-security prison.
The kibbutz is located near the site of the several Battles of Megiddo and Tel Megiddo, a rich archeological site. According to the Bible, the town was apportioned to the tribe of Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7:29). In 2005, Israeli archeologists discovered the remains of an ancient church, perhaps the oldest in the Holy Land, under the grounds of the prison. Authorities are speculating about moving the prison so the site can be accessible to tourists.
In Christian apocalyptic literature, Mount Megiddo, the hill overlooking the valley where the current kibbutz is located, is identified as the site of the final battle between the forces of good and evil at the end of time, known as Armageddon and mentioned in the New Testament in Revelation 16:16.
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