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Eli (town)
Encyclopedia
Eli is a large mixed communal
Israeli settlement
in the West Bank
. Located on Highway 60
north of Jerusalem and Ramallah
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. At the end of 2008 it had a population of 2,800. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law
, but the Israeli government disputes this.
Eli was established on 11 September 1984, when three families moved into recently placed buildings. It was the first settlement to be attempted without a core group of families. Several families from Ofra
, Kokhav HaShahar
, and Shilo were persuaded to come for at least a year while more families would be found. The village was originally called 'Givat Levona' after the adjacent village Ma'ale Levona
.
In recent years the town has evolved into the municipal center for the Shilo area settlement bloc. It became a regular destination for French Jewish
immigrants, and an ulpan
has been established in nearby Ofra
to aid their absorption. Eli is also home to the Bnei David pre-military Mechina
academy. This yeshiva also offers post-army academic programs.
Eli is named after the biblical high-priest
who served in the Tabernacle
in nearby biblical Shiloh.
Communal settlement (Israel)
A community settlement is a type of town in Israel. While in an ordinary town anyone may buy property, in a community settlement the town's residents, who are organized in a cooperative, can veto a sale of a house or a business to an undesirable buyer....
Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. Located on Highway 60
Highway 60 (Israel)
Highway 60 is a north-south intercity road in Israel and the West Bank that stretches from Beersheba to Nazareth.-Route:The route is also known as the "Route of the Patriarchs" since it follows the path of the ancient highway that runs along the length of the central watershed, and which...
north of Jerusalem and Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. At the end of 2008 it had a population of 2,800. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law
International law and Israeli settlements
The international community considers the establishment of Israeli settlements in the Israeli-occupied territories illegal under international law, but Israel maintains that they are consistent with international law because it does not agree that the Fourth Geneva Convention applies to the...
, but the Israeli government disputes this.
Eli was established on 11 September 1984, when three families moved into recently placed buildings. It was the first settlement to be attempted without a core group of families. Several families from Ofra
Ofra
Ofra is an Israeli settlement located in the northern West Bank in the jurisdiction of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. It is situated on the main road between Jerusalem and Nablus , 25 km from Jerusalem and has 3,200 inhabitants ....
, Kokhav HaShahar
Kokhav HaShahar
Kokhav HaShahar is an Israeli settlement in the Binyamin region of northern West Bank. It is located on a mountain ridge overlooking the Jordan Valley, and is accessible via the Allon Road. Kokhav HaShahar falls under the municipal jurisdiction of the Matte Binyamin Regional Council...
, and Shilo were persuaded to come for at least a year while more families would be found. The village was originally called 'Givat Levona' after the adjacent village Ma'ale Levona
Ma'ale Levona
Ma'ale Levona is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. "Ma'ale Levonah" means "Ascent of Frankincense" in Hebrew. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.It overlooks its namesake, an...
.
In recent years the town has evolved into the municipal center for the Shilo area settlement bloc. It became a regular destination for French Jewish
History of the Jews in France
The history of the Jews of France dates back over 2,000 years. In the early Middle Ages, France was a center of Jewish learning, but persecution increased as the Middle Ages wore on...
immigrants, and an ulpan
Ulpan
An ulpan is an institute or school for the intensive study of Hebrew. Ulpan is a Hebrew word meaning basically studio or teaching, instruction....
has been established in nearby Ofra
Ofra
Ofra is an Israeli settlement located in the northern West Bank in the jurisdiction of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. It is situated on the main road between Jerusalem and Nablus , 25 km from Jerusalem and has 3,200 inhabitants ....
to aid their absorption. Eli is also home to the Bnei David pre-military Mechina
Mechina
A Mechina is an Israeli educational program that prepares high school graduates for serving in the Israeli Army or study at an institution of higher learning in Israel...
academy. This yeshiva also offers post-army academic programs.
Eli is named after the biblical high-priest
Eli (Biblical Priest)
Eli was, according to the Books of Samuel, a Jewish High Priest of Shiloh, and one of the last Israelite Judges before the rule of kings in ancient Israel.-Biblical narrative:...
who served in the Tabernacle
Tabernacle
The Tabernacle , according to the Hebrew Torah/Old Testament, was the portable dwelling place for the divine presence from the time of the Exodus from Egypt through the conquering of the land of Canaan. Built to specifications revealed by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, it accompanied the Israelites...
in nearby biblical Shiloh.