Geshur, Golan Heights
Geshur (Hebrew: גְּשׁוּר, lit. Bridging) is an Israeli settlement and kibbutz on the ridge of the southern Golan Heights.[2][3] The international community considers Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[4] In 2018 it had a population of 283.[1]
Geshur גְּשׁוּר | |
---|---|
![]() ![]() Geshur | |
Coordinates: 32°49′10″N 35°42′56″E | |
Country | Israel |
District | Northern |
Council | Golan |
Region | Golan Heights |
Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
Founded | 1971 |
Founded by | Hashomer Hatzair members |
Population (2018)[1] | 283 |
Etymology
The kibbutz is named after a biblical kingdom which may or may not have been in the same area.
History
Bronze age
![](../I/m/Early-Historical-Israel-Dan-Beersheba-Judea.png)
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.[5][6]
Modern period
Kibbutz Geshur was founded in 1971 by Hashomer Hatzair, a socialist-Zionist youth movement,[7] 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.[8]
References
- "Population in the Localities 2018" (XLS). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- Who's left in Israel?: radical political alternatives for the future of Israel, p. 106, Dan Leon, Sussex Academic Press, 2004, ISBN 978-1-903900-56-7, accessed December 20, 2009
- Geography and politics in Israel since 1967, p. 119, Elisha Efrat, Routledge, 1988, 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 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