Gonen

This article is about the kibbutz. For the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, see Katamon. For the town and district in Turkey, see Gönen.
Gonen
גּוֹנֵן‎
Etymology: Defended
Gonen is located in Northeast Israel
Gonen
Gonen
Coordinates: 33°7′21″N 35°38′47″E / 33.12250°N 35.64639°E / 33.12250; 35.64639
CountryIsrael
DistrictNorthern
CouncilUpper Galilee
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded13 August 1951
Founded byNahal
Population
 (2022)[1]
372
Websitekgonen.org.il

Gonen (Hebrew: גּוֹנֵן, lit. Defended) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Finger of the Galilee near Kiryat Shmona, the kibbutz falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 372.[1]

History

Gonen was established on 13 August 1951 as a Nahal settlement[2] on the land of the Palestinian village of Ghuraba, which had become depopulated in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.[3]

It was civilianised a year later by a group of Hebrew Scouts.[4] It was the first Nahal settlement to convert to civilian control.

Its name is derived from the Book of Kings and symbolized the settlement's strategic location and proximity to the pre-Six-Day War Israel–Syria border, established in the 1949 Armistice Agreements. During the 1949–1967 period, the village's vicinity was the site of numerous skirmishes with the Syrian army.[4]

Since 1994, the kibbutz has been in the process of conversion to a community settlement.[4]

Economy

The economy of Gonen is based upon agriculture, including corn, citrus fruits, and the raising of cattle. There is also a mini-market and a guest house.

References

  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ Vilnai, Ze'ev (1976). "Kaukab". Ariel Encyclopedia (in Hebrew). Vol. 2. Tel Aviv, Israel: Am Oved. p. 1268.
  3. ^ Khalidi, W. (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. p. 452. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
  4. ^ a b c HaReuveni, Immanuel (1999). Lexicon of the Land of Israel (in Hebrew). Miskal - Yedioth Ahronoth Books and Chemed Books. p. 185. ISBN 965-448-413-7.