Geshur, Golan Heights
Geshur
| |
|---|---|
| Country | Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Council | Golan Regional Council |
| Region | Golan Heights |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founded by | Hashomer Hatzair members |
| Population (2006) | 215 |
Geshur (Template:Lang-he-n, lit. Bridging) is an Israeli settlement, kibbutz, on the ridge of the southern Golan Heights.[1][2] The international community considers Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3]
History
Biblical era
The kibbutz is named after a mythical biblical kingdom which may or may not have been in the same area. According to the Bible, during the time of King David, Geshur was an independent kingdom (Joshua 13:13). David married Maachah, a daughter of Talmai, King of Geshur. (2 Samuel 3:3, 1 Chronicles 3:2) Her son Absalom fled to his mother's native country, after the murder of his half-brother and David's eldest son, Amnon. Absalom stayed there for three years before being rehabilitated by David. (ib. 13:37, 15:8) Geshur managed to maintain its independence from the Aramean kingdoms until after the time of King Solomon.[4][5]
Modern era
Kibbutz Geshur was founded in 1971 by Hashomer Hatzair, a socialist-Zionist youth movement,[6] It falls under the jurisdiction of Golan Regional Council. Geshur has a population of 150, including 35 children.
The first Golan Heights vineyards were planted in Geshur in 1976.[7]
References
- ^ Who's left in Israel?: radical political alternatives for the future of Israel, p. 106, Dan Leon, Sussex Academic Press, 2004, ISBN 1-903900-56-5, ISBN 978-1-903900-56-7, accessed December 20, 2009
- ^ Geography and politics in Israel since 1967, p. 119, Elisha Efrat, Routledge, 1988, ISBN 0-7146-3303-8, ISBN 978-0-7146-3303-9, accessed December 20, 2009
- ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC. December 10, 2009.
- ^ The history of ancient Palestine, pp. 397-400, Gösta Werner Ahlström, Fortress Press, 1993, ISBN 0-8006-2770-9, ISBN 978-0-8006-2770-6, accessed December 20, 2009
- ^ Ancient Damascus: a historical study of the Syrian city-state from earliest times until its fall to the Assyrians in 732 B.C.E., pp. 88-89, Wayne Thomas Pitard, Eisenbrauns, 1987, ISBN 0-931464-29-3, accessed December 20, 2009
- ^ Ashkenazi, Eli, "On the Golan Heights, people say that all this talk about talks is 'just talk'", Haaretz, May 22, 2008, accessed December 20, 2009
- ^ Ben Joseph, Michael, "Golan Heights wines are fuel for the soul," Jerusalem Post, October 25, 2001, accessed December 20, 2009
Further reading
- Duel for the Golan: the 100-hour battle that saved Israel, Jerry Asher, Eric M. Hammel, W. Morrow, 1987, ISBN 0-688-06911-8
- Zohar, Mattanyahu, "The Land of Geshur Project: Regional Archaeology of the Southern Golan (1987-1988 season)," Israel Exploration Journal, Volume 39, Israel Exploration Society, 1989