Niran

Niran
Niran
Coordinates: 31°58′0.74″N 35°27′15.62″E / 31.9668722°N 35.4543389°ECoordinates: 31°58′0.74″N 35°27′15.62″E / 31.9668722°N 35.4543389°E
Council Bik'at HaYarden
Region Jordan Valley
Affiliation Kibbutz Movement
Founded 1971
Founded by Nahal
Website www.naaran.org

Niran (Hebrew: נערן or נִירָן) is a kibbutz and Israeli settlement in the West Bank.[1] Located in the Jordan Valley near Jericho, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council and is located in Area C.[1]

In 2006 it had a population of 56.[2]

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3]

History

Niran was established on June 18, 1971 as a Nahal settlement, or military outpost, by the Nahal Command in collaboration with the Agricultural Settlement Department of the Jewish Agency on land prepared by the Jewish National Fund.[4] Niran began its existence as "a tented outpost of a few dozen persons."[4] The barren conditions required that soil be carried up from surrounding valleys to make agriculture viable.[4] During its time as a military outpost, it was used to prevent armed infiltration from Jordan and as a disciplinary assignment for delinquent Israeli soldiers.[4] It was demilitarized and converted to a civilian kibbutz in 1977.[5] It is named after the biblical city of Naaran.

Culture

The kibbutz organizes workshops on Zionism, Judaism and Israeli society. Some members of the kibbutz work in the date groves or at the local plastics factory, P.V.Ran, which manufactures packaging and wrappings for food products in compliance with international standards.[6][7][8]

Archaeological findings

The ruins of a 6th-century synagogue were discovered in Naaran, a short distance from the kibbutz.[9] The site contains an ancient mosaic and archeological treasures and attracts both worshippers and pilgrims.[10] In May 2012, the ancient synagogue was vandalized with graffiti that included swastikas and Palestinian flags.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.jordanvalley.org.il/page_49317
  2. ↑ http://cbs.gov.il/ishuvim/ishuv2011/bycode.xls
  3. ↑ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Bowden, Tom (1976-06-01). Army in the Service of the State. Transaction Publishers. pp. 151–52. ISBN 9780878552191.
  5. ↑ MA'AN Development Center (2012-04-07), Parallel Realities: Israeli Settlements and Palestinian Communities in the Jordan Valley
  6. ↑ Heruti-Sover, Tali (7 June 2006). קיבוץ מודל 2006: משק חינוכי וקהילה אקולוגית [Kibbutz model 2006: educational farm and ecological community]. Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 4 July 2011. היום חיים במקום כ-50 חברים שהגיעו עם גרעיני הנח"ל הראשונים שיישבו את הקיבוץ, וכ-30 חברי גרעין חדשים.
  7. ↑ מפעלים [Factories, N–Z] (in Hebrew). Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor (Israel). Retrieved 4 July 2011. קיבוץ נערן: פי.וי.רן
  8. ↑ "About Us". P.V.Ran. Retrieved 4 July 2011. P.V.Ran offers a wide range of packaging films for the industry and for household users.
  9. ↑ "נערן" [Na'aran]. Jordan Valley Regional Council. Retrieved 4 July 2011. בקרבת מקום, שרידי בית כנסת עתיק מהמאה השישית.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Itamar Fleishman (25 May 2012). "Swastikas sprayed on ancient synagogue near Jericho". Ynetnews.

External links