Mevo'ot Yericho ( he, מְבוֹאוֹת יְרִיחוֹ, ''lit.'' Doorway to Jericho), founded in 1999, is an
Israeli settlement and a
community settlement
A community settlement ( he, יישוב קהילתי, ''Yishuv Kehilati'') is a type of village in Israel and the West Bank. While in an ordinary town anyone may buy property, in a community settlement the village's residents are organized in ...
located in the
West Bank
The West Bank ( ar, الضفة الغربية, translit=aḍ-Ḍiffah al-Ġarbiyyah; he, הגדה המערבית, translit=HaGadah HaMaʽaravit, also referred to by some Israelis as ) is a landlocked territory near the coast of the Mediter ...
's southern
Jordan Valley
The Jordan Valley ( ar, غور الأردن, ''Ghor al-Urdun''; he, עֵמֶק הַיַרְדֵּן, ''Emek HaYarden'') forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. Unlike most other river valleys, the term "Jordan Valley" often applies just to ...
just north of
Jericho, in the Yitav Valley. The site is 150m below sea level. It falls under the municipal jurisdiction of the
Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council
Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council ( he, מועצה אזורית בקעת הירדן, ''Mo'atza Azorit Bik'at HaYarden'', ''lit.'' Jordan Valley Regional Council), also Aravot HaYarden (''lit.'' Jordan Plains) is a regional council covering 21 Isra ...
.
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank
illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.
On September 15, 2019, the Israeli government officially approved the establishment of the settlement,
making it the sixth new official settlement since the
Oslo accords.
History
Founded as a station for agricultural experiments known as ''Havat HaIklum'' (lit. "The acclimatization farm"), Mevo'ot Yericho became a farming community in 2000. Over the years more families joined and many of them are not involved in agriculture. The total number of families has gone up from a single family to 28 today.
Several crops are grown including lemons, dates, figs, grapes, sweet potatoes, passion fruit and more.
In the mid-2000s, a project for disadvantaged girls was established at Mevo'ot Yericho. The girls live and work in the community and travel to
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
for studies in the evening. This project is named Ginat Eden ( he, גינת עדן) and continues to grow and help these girls every day.
Mikveh
The construction of what may be the world's first solar-powered
mikveh was completed in 2007. The mikveh is in constant use, including a side opening for the purification of utensils.
New neighborhood
Over the last few years the community has gone through a process of shifting from temporary housing to permanent structures. Several families have moved into the new houses located above and behind the old community center.
Archaeology
Numerous archaeological findings in the area attest to the presence of ancient Jewish settlement. Within the settlement remains of an
aqueduct are clearly visible. Remains of this aqueduct run both north and south of the community and can be traced almost all the way from the nearby spring to the area of the ancient synagogue.
Both the aqueduct and nearby
Na'aran synagogue are dated to the 6th century. Archaeologists believe that these are the remains of a thriving Jewish community that existed in this area at that time.
References
External links
August 2008 Americans for Peace Now report on Jordan Valley settlements
{{Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council
Jericho
Populated places established in 1999
Community settlements
1999 establishments in the Palestinian territories