Meirav
Encyclopedia
Meirav or Merav is a religious kibbutz
located on the downward slopes of Mount Gilboa in Israel
. Located about ten kilometres southwest of Beit She'an and less than 500 metres from the Green Line
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council , known until 2008 as the Beit She'an Valley Regional Council.
on Mount Malkishua in 1982, and is the newest religious kibbutz in the country. In 1987 it moved to its current location on Mount Avinadav.
Meirav is located just south of another religious kibbutz, Ma'ale Gilboa
. As they are both religious kibbutzim, it was decided that although they are located in the Gilboa mountains (and would naturally fall under the jurisdiction of Gilboa Regional Council
), it would be better to include them in Beit She'an Valley Regional Council, where there is a group of religious kibbutzim, including Ein HaNatziv
, Sde Eliyahu
, Shluhot
and Tirat Zvi
.
On 18 November 2011, Haaretz
reported that the route of the separation barrier
near kibbutz Meirav has been changed so that about 1,500 dunams (375 acres) of Palestinian
land would be on the Israeli side. The parcel of land was transferred to the kibbutz, which is located about seven kilometers northwest of it. It is thought to be the first instance of Palestinian-owned land being transferred to a community on Israeli territory within the Green line
.
Some people connect the name "Meirav" to the story of Saul
's death in the Battle of Gilboa against the Philistines
, which is believed to have occurred nearby, because Saul's oldest daughter was named Meirav (1 Samuel 14:49). However, the name can also be interpreted as meaning "a lot of water" and " the most of".
village of Jilabaun. However, a terrorist attack on the kibbutz's residents, resulting in the death of a young girl, and another in Beit She'an led to the building of a fence between the two communities, resulting in the Palestinians losing their jobs.
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
located on the downward slopes of Mount Gilboa in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Located about ten kilometres southwest of Beit She'an and less than 500 metres from the Green Line
Green Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council , known until 2008 as the Beit She'an Valley Regional Council.
History
The kibbutz was founded initially as a Nahal settlementNahal settlement
Nahal settlements were settlements established by Nahal soldiers in Israel and Israeli-occupied territories. Supporting Jewish settlement growth and expansion throughout Israel was once the main focus of the Nahal military brigade. The goal for every Nahal settlement was to become a civilian...
on Mount Malkishua in 1982, and is the newest religious kibbutz in the country. In 1987 it moved to its current location on Mount Avinadav.
Meirav is located just south of another religious kibbutz, Ma'ale Gilboa
Ma'ale Gilboa
Ma'ale Gilboa is a religious kibbutz located on the summit of Mount Gilboa, on the northeast end of the ridge of the Samarian hills in Israel. Located about 5 km west of Beit She'an, it falls under the jurisdiction of Beit She'an Valley Regional Council...
. As they are both religious kibbutzim, it was decided that although they are located in the Gilboa mountains (and would naturally fall under the jurisdiction of Gilboa Regional Council
Gilboa Regional Council
Gilboa Regional Council is a regional council in northern Israel, located on the slopes of the Gilboa mountain range. There are more than 22,000 residents in 38 settlements as of 2007...
), it would be better to include them in Beit She'an Valley Regional Council, where there is a group of religious kibbutzim, including Ein HaNatziv
Ein HaNatziv
Ein HaNatziv is a kibbutz in the Bet She'an Valley in Israel. Located about three kilometers south of the ancient city of Beit She'an, it is 130 meters below sea level. The kibbutz, a member of the Religious Kibbutz Movement, has a population of 700...
, Sde Eliyahu
Sde Eliyahu
Sde Eliyahu is a religious kibbutz in northern Israel. Located 5 km south of Beit She'an, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council.-History:...
, Shluhot
Shluhot
Shluhot is an Orthodox kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley in northern Israel. Located about three kilometres south of the city of Beit She'an, it falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council.- History :...
and Tirat Zvi
Tirat Zvi
Tirat Zvi is a religious kibbutz in the Beit She'an Valley, ten kilometers south of the city of Beit She'an, Israel, just west of the Jordan River and the Israel-Jordan border. It falls under the jurisdiction of Valley of Springs Regional Council. In 2006, the kibbutz had a population of...
.
On 18 November 2011, Haaretz
Haaretz
Haaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
reported that the route of the separation barrier
Israeli West Bank barrier
The Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
near kibbutz Meirav has been changed so that about 1,500 dunams (375 acres) of Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
land would be on the Israeli side. The parcel of land was transferred to the kibbutz, which is located about seven kilometers northwest of it. It is thought to be the first instance of Palestinian-owned land being transferred to a community on Israeli territory within the Green line
Green Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
.
Some people connect the name "Meirav" to the story of Saul
Saul
-People:Saul is a given/first name in English, the Anglicized form of the Hebrew name Shaul from the Hebrew Bible:* Saul , including people with this given namein the Bible:* Saul , a king of Edom...
's death in the Battle of Gilboa against the Philistines
Philistines
Philistines , Pleshet or Peleset, were a people who occupied the southern coast of Canaan at the beginning of the Iron Age . According to the Bible, they ruled the five city-states of Gaza, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron and Gath, from the Wadi Gaza in the south to the Yarqon River in the north, but with...
, which is believed to have occurred nearby, because Saul's oldest daughter was named Meirav (1 Samuel 14:49). However, the name can also be interpreted as meaning "a lot of water" and " the most of".
Economy
As well as agriculture, the kibbutz also has a candle factory. Until 2001 it employed around 100 Palestinians from the nearby West BankWest 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...
village of Jilabaun. However, a terrorist attack on the kibbutz's residents, resulting in the death of a young girl, and another in Beit She'an led to the building of a fence between the two communities, resulting in the Palestinians losing their jobs.