Givat Harel

Home in Givat Harel overlooking vineyard
Israelite horned altar in Givat Harel

Givat Harel (Hebrew: גבעת הראל) is an Israeli settlement established in 1998.[1] It is under the jurisdiction of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council in the northern West Bank, north of Nahal Shilo. Givat Harel is situated just off Highway 60 on a hill between Eli and Shilo.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[2]

History

Giv'at Harel is named after 18-year-old Harel Bin Nun,[3] who was shot and killed by Arab terrorists on August 5, 1998, while he and his friend Shlomo Liebman were on civilian security patrol in the vicinity of Yitzhar.[4]

Givat Harel, now home to nearly 40 families, was established by Bin Nun's brothers, who grew up in Shilo. Bin-Nun's father, Elhanan, is the rabbi of Shilo.[5]

The road to Givat Harel was paved by the Netanyahu government when Ariel Sharon served as minister of national infrastructures.[6]

Shortly after the establishment of the site, an ancient horned altar was found on the hilltop. [7]

Daniel Bin Nun, brother of Harel, runs Ranch on the Hill, a therapeutic horseback riding center, in Givat Harel.[8]The center has a large riding corral, stables and a small petting zoo.[9]

In 2007, Cyril Stein, former chairman of the Ladbrokes betting company, built a home in Givat Harel.[10]

In July 2012, the IDF used live fire to disperse settlers from Givat Harel and Palestinians from the neighboring town of Sinjil. A clash erupted when settlers met for prayers at the entrance to the town. The settlers say that Sinjil villagers are farming state land in an attempt to take control of it, while the authorities maintain that the property belongs to Sinjil.[11]

Landmarks

Ein Oz is a spring west of Givat Harel. The spring water flows from a cave into two pools. In 2005, almond trees were planted on the site, which is now a park. [12]

References

External links

Coordinates: 32°3′31.91″N 35°16′23.65″E / 32.0588639°N 35.2732361°E / 32.0588639; 35.2732361

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