Yafit

Yafit
Yafit
Coordinates: 32°3′41.34″N 35°28′26.69″E / 32.0614833°N 35.4740806°E / 32.0614833; 35.4740806Coordinates: 32°3′41.34″N 35°28′26.69″E / 32.0614833°N 35.4740806°E / 32.0614833; 35.4740806
Council Bik'at HaYarden
Region Jordan Valley
Affiliation Moshavim Movement
Founded 1980
Founded by Israeli civilians

Yafit (Hebrew: יַפִית, lit. Beautiful) is a moshav shitufi and Israeli settlement in the West Bank.[1] Located in the Jordan Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council.[1] In 2011, Yafit had a population of 106.[2]

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3]

History

Yafit was built in the 1980s on a plot of rocky land in the Jordan Valley by Israelis attracted by the beauty of the desert. [4]It was named after Yossi Yafa, an IDF commander. In 1992 the founders were joined by immigrants from Russia. In the 1990s, it was one of the largest communities in the valley and a cultural and educational center. Due to drive-by shootings by Palestinians on Route 90, which passes the mountain where the New Testament says Jesus was tempted by the devil, many residents have left.[4]

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, August 22, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.