Gedera
Encyclopedia
Gedera, or Gdera is a town
in the Center District
of Israel
. It is located 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) south-east of Tel Aviv
and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Ashdod.
group, near the ruins of a biblical Israelite
city. Those ruins were thought to have been the ruins of a biblical city called HaGdera (The fenced city)(Joshua 15:36) or according to another, less probable theory of a biblical city called Gderot (fences)(Joshua 15:41), and therefore the name Gedera (Fenced city) was chosen.
Recent excavations in the Gedera area of Tel Qatra have revealed artifacts from the Middle Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, and Iron Age. In addition, remains of a more recent Muslim
cemetery
have been found.
Up until the 1948 War of Independence Gedera was flanked by the Arab Muslim village of Kfar Qatra
, which was situated directly next to the original Gedera homes. The majority of the residents of the villages were expelled during the war, never to return, and their locations have now been built over in the northern half of Gedera, primarily in the first 25 years after the War of Independence.
In the 1940s Idi Amin
lived in Gedera for around a year as he received military training.
, which rise to the height of 80 meters above sea level. It has an area of 14,500 dunam
s (14.5 km²) and a population of 21,500 at the end of 2009. Gedera's Per Capita GDP as of a 2005 was 35,573 NIS, or 9,321 US Dollars. In its history it has always been a small village, not bordered by any other villages of considerable size, and it is also many miles away from the suburbs of Tel Aviv, allowing it to remain relatively small and rural, serving as one of the last stops for drivers entering the Negev Desert.
It is famous for its pastoral countryside view. Surrounded by green hills and agricultural lands, on the west it is possible to see all the way to the coastal city of Ashdod 14 kilometers to the southwest, and on the east there is a clear view of the Judean Mountains
and Jerusalem Mountains, and due to the near proximity to the border, also on a clear day into the West Bank
25 kilometers to the northeast.
Gedera is often considered to be the southern edge of central Israel, while Hadera
is considered the northern edge, hence the Israeli expression "from Hadera to Gedera" to describe the most populated area in Israel.
Gedera has a very large population of Yemenite Jews
that came before and during the founding of the nation around the time of the War of Independence. Most estimates put their population at 50% of Gedera, making it one of the few primarily Mizrahi towns in the center district of Israel.
Over the past 15 years, Ethiopian Jew
s have steadily moved to Gedera, now making up a 16% of the population (3,200 people). Their economic condition is improving, as the younger generation had adapted to Israeli culture and the language, whereas the older immigrants have not.
, Ashdod and Kiryat Gat), low prices for private homes and the fact that it is a green and quiet town yet it is in the central district near Tel Aviv
and Jerusalem make it very attractive to Israelis. Gedera is one of the faster-growing towns in Israel, with a 7.9% growth rate. Recently, major developments have taken place in one section, creating a housing development for well-to-do and middle class residents, simply called New Gedera.
This major development, funded and built by the Azorim company, is an agglomeration of new close-knit houses-filled neighborhoods and low-rise apartment buildings. The development has expanded inhabited Gedera by a large degree and added key services (banks, restaurants, shopping locations and a planned movie theatre). A major shopping venue built by Azorim is the Gedera Mall, located in the southeast of the town. First opened in September 2007, Gedera Mall has small businesses along with anchor tenants from semi-major department stores from Israel and Europe. Several restaurants are located within the building, along with a sports complex that is possible to expand in size depending on future needs. The mall's size is similar to most in satellite cities in Israel, containing approximately 15 stores of varying sizes. The mall has two floors, and covers half a city block in Gedera.
The major road Highway 7
was recently constructed alongside the border of Gedera, linking Gedera directly to Israel's cross-country highway, Highway 6
.
Local council (Israel)
Local councils are one of the three types of local government found in Israel, with the other two being cities and regional councils. As of 2003, there were 144 local councils in Israel, these being settlements which pass a minimum threshold enough to justify their operations as independent...
in the Center District
Center District (Israel)
The Central District of Israel is one of six administrative districts, including most of the Sharon region. The district capital is Ramla. It is further divided into 4 sub-districts: Petah Tikva, Ramla, Sharon and Rehovot. The district's largest city is Rishon LeZion. Its population as of 2008 was...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is located 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) south-east of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) east of Ashdod.
History
Gedera was founded in 1884 by members of the BiluBilu
Bilu was a movement whose goal was the agricultural settlement of the Land of Israel. "Bilu" is an acronym based on a verse from the Book of Isaiah "בית יעקב לכו ונלכה" Beit Ya'akov Lekhu Venelkha...
group, near the ruins of a biblical Israelite
Israelite
According to the Bible the Israelites were a Hebrew-speaking people of the Ancient Near East who inhabited the Land of Canaan during the monarchic period .The word "Israelite" derives from the Biblical Hebrew ישראל...
city. Those ruins were thought to have been the ruins of a biblical city called HaGdera (The fenced city)(Joshua 15:36) or according to another, less probable theory of a biblical city called Gderot (fences)(Joshua 15:41), and therefore the name Gedera (Fenced city) was chosen.
Recent excavations in the Gedera area of Tel Qatra have revealed artifacts from the Middle Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, and Iron Age. In addition, remains of a more recent Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
have been found.
Up until the 1948 War of Independence Gedera was flanked by the Arab Muslim village of Kfar Qatra
Qatra
Qatra was a Palestinian Arab village located southwest of the city of Ramla and west of Jerusalem, some above sea level.- History :Qatra was a Canaanite center of political and economic authority that along with 30 other urban sites in regions bordering the Mediterranean sea, entered a period...
, which was situated directly next to the original Gedera homes. The majority of the residents of the villages were expelled during the war, never to return, and their locations have now been built over in the northern half of Gedera, primarily in the first 25 years after the War of Independence.
In the 1940s Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
lived in Gedera for around a year as he received military training.
Geography and demographics
Gedera is built on 7 hills in the ShephelahShephelah
The Shephelah is a designation usually applied to the region in south-central Israel of 10-15 km of low hills between the central Mount Hebron and the coastal plains of Philistia within the area of the Judea, at an altitude of 120-450 metres above sea level. The area is fertile, and a temperate...
, which rise to the height of 80 meters above sea level. It has an area of 14,500 dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s (14.5 km²) and a population of 21,500 at the end of 2009. Gedera's Per Capita GDP as of a 2005 was 35,573 NIS, or 9,321 US Dollars. In its history it has always been a small village, not bordered by any other villages of considerable size, and it is also many miles away from the suburbs of Tel Aviv, allowing it to remain relatively small and rural, serving as one of the last stops for drivers entering the Negev Desert.
It is famous for its pastoral countryside view. Surrounded by green hills and agricultural lands, on the west it is possible to see all the way to the coastal city of Ashdod 14 kilometers to the southwest, and on the east there is a clear view of the Judean Mountains
Judean Mountains
The Judaean Mountains, ;, also Judaean Hills and Hebron Hills is a mountain range in Israel and the West Bank where Jerusalem and several other biblical cities are located. The mountains reach a height of 1,000 m.-Geography:...
and Jerusalem Mountains, and due to the near proximity to the border, also on a clear day into 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...
25 kilometers to the northeast.
Gedera is often considered to be the southern edge of central Israel, while Hadera
Hadera
Hadera is a city located in the Haifa District of Israel approximately from the major cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. The city is located along of the Israeli Mediterranean Coastal Plain...
is considered the northern edge, hence the Israeli expression "from Hadera to Gedera" to describe the most populated area in Israel.
Gedera has a very large population of Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews
Yemenite Jews are those Jews who live, or whose recent ancestors lived, in Yemen . Between June 1949 and September 1950, the overwhelming majority of Yemen's Jewish population was transported to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet...
that came before and during the founding of the nation around the time of the War of Independence. Most estimates put their population at 50% of Gedera, making it one of the few primarily Mizrahi towns in the center district of Israel.
Over the past 15 years, Ethiopian Jew
Beta Israel
Beta Israel Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል - Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews , are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires , nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray...
s have steadily moved to Gedera, now making up a 16% of the population (3,200 people). Their economic condition is improving, as the younger generation had adapted to Israeli culture and the language, whereas the older immigrants have not.
Expansion and development in the 2000s
Gedera's position near the large south-central cities of Israel (RehovotRehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
, Ashdod and Kiryat Gat), low prices for private homes and the fact that it is a green and quiet town yet it is in the central district near Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and Jerusalem make it very attractive to Israelis. Gedera is one of the faster-growing towns in Israel, with a 7.9% growth rate. Recently, major developments have taken place in one section, creating a housing development for well-to-do and middle class residents, simply called New Gedera.
This major development, funded and built by the Azorim company, is an agglomeration of new close-knit houses-filled neighborhoods and low-rise apartment buildings. The development has expanded inhabited Gedera by a large degree and added key services (banks, restaurants, shopping locations and a planned movie theatre). A major shopping venue built by Azorim is the Gedera Mall, located in the southeast of the town. First opened in September 2007, Gedera Mall has small businesses along with anchor tenants from semi-major department stores from Israel and Europe. Several restaurants are located within the building, along with a sports complex that is possible to expand in size depending on future needs. The mall's size is similar to most in satellite cities in Israel, containing approximately 15 stores of varying sizes. The mall has two floors, and covers half a city block in Gedera.
The major road Highway 7
Highway 7 (Israel)
Highway 7 is a new highway in the South District of Israel from Yesodot to Gedera. It connects the Trans-Israel Highway with the coastal region. It is planned to reach Ashdod and to terminate in a junction with Highway 4...
was recently constructed alongside the border of Gedera, linking Gedera directly to Israel's cross-country highway, Highway 6
Highway 6 (Israel)
Highway 6 , widely known as the Trans-Israel Highway or Cross-Israel Highway , is a major electronic toll highway in Israel. The highway was officially dedicated as the Yitzhak Rabin Highway , though this name is not commonly used. It started operating in the early 2000s and is being lengthened as...
.
Notable residents
- Gila GamlielGila GamlielGila Gamliel is an Israeli politician who currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.-Biography:...
(born 1974), member of the Knesset for Likud and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office