Barkan

For other uses, see Barkan (disambiguation).
Barkan
בַּרְקָן‎
Israeli settlement
The Barkan mall
The Barkan mall
Barkan is located in the Northern West Bank
Barkan
Barkan
Coordinates: 32°6′27″N 35°6′20.51″E / 32.10750°N 35.1056972°E / 32.10750; 35.1056972
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilShomron
RegionWest Bank
AffiliationMishkei Herut Beitar
Founded1981
Founded byBeitar and Herut
Population
 (2022)[1]
2,040

Barkan (Hebrew: בַּרְקָן) is an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank, about 8 km west of the Palestinian city of Salfit, under the administrative local government of the Shomron Regional Council. In 2022 its population was 2,040.

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

History

Founded in June 1981 by secular Israelis from the Beitar and Herut movements, Barkan is part of a chain of settlements built along the Trans-Samaria Highway, and adjacent to the Barkan Industrial Park. The park, established in 1982, has 120 businesses and factories manufacturing plastics, metal-work, food, textile, and more. Of the 5,000 workers, 90% are Palestinian Arabs.[3]

According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated land from two Palestinian villages in order to construct Barkan: 167 dunams from Qarawat Bani Hassan,[4] and 353 dunams from Sarta.[5]

"Barkan" is called after the Hebrew name of the Syrian thistle. The original name of the town was Beit Abba after Abba Ahimeir, a leader of the Lehi.[6]

Archaeology

An archeological site east of the town contains remnants of an Israelite settlement during the time of the first and second temples.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  3. ^ Barkan Industrial Park
  4. ^ Qarawat Bani Hassan Town Profile, ARIJ, p. 17
  5. ^ Sarta Village Profile (including ‘Izbat Abu Adam Locality), p. 18
  6. ^ Miskin, Maayana (15 July 2011). "After 30 Years: Barkan Honors Achimeir". Israel National News. Retrieved 16 July 2011. When Barkan was founded 30 years ago it had the name Beit Abba, in honor of Achimeir.