Gitit (Hebrew: גִּתִּית) is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, organized as a moshav.[2] Located in the Jordan Valley with an area of 1,500 dunams (1.5 km2; 0.58 sq mi), it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council.[2] In 2022 it had a population of 502.[1]

Gitit
גִּתִּית, גיתית
Gitit is located in the Northern West Bank
Gitit
Gitit
Coordinates: 32°6′3.82″N 35°23′45.59″E / 32.1010611°N 35.3959972°E / 32.1010611; 35.3959972
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilBik'at HaYarden
RegionWest Bank
AffiliationMishkei Herut Beitar
Founded1972
Founded byNahal
Population
 (2022)[1]
502
Websitewww.gittit.co.il

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

History

 
Gitit settlement in an OCHA oPt map, May 2023

According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated 514 dunams of land from the Palestinian village of Al-Jiftlik in order to construct Gitit[4] in addition to 1,085 dunums from Aqraba for Gitit and Itamar.[5]

After the decision to establish a settlement had been made, land was seized from Aqraba first by declaring a closed military area.[6] When the Palestinian owners refused to vacate the area, their tools were sabotaged.[6] Finally, a crop-duster was used to spray the area with poison, in a joint operation approved by the government of Golda Meir in April 1972, involving the IDF and the Jewish Agency.[6][7] The village was then established in 1972 as a Nahal settlement.[6] It is named for a musical instrument mentioned in the Bible with a similar shape as the area:[8] f.e. Psalm 8:1.

In 1975 it became a civilian community affiliated with Mishkei Herut Beitar.[2] In 1978 it became a moshav shitufi, but later reverted to moshav ovdim status.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Gitit Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council
  3. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. ^ Al Jiftlik Village Profile p. 17, ARIJ
  5. ^ Aqraba Town Profile (including Yanun Locality), ARIJ, p. 16
  6. ^ a b c d Aderet, Ofer (23 June 2023). "Israel Poisoned Palestinian Land to Build West Bank Settlement in 1970s, Documents Reveal". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  7. ^ Jonathan Ofir, 'New report outlines how Golda Meir’s Israel poisoned Palestinian land in ethnic cleansing operation.' Mondoweiss 25 June 2023.
  8. ^ Bitan, Hanna: 1948-1998: Fifty Years of 'Hityashvut': Atlas of Names of Settlements in Israel, Jerusalem 1999, Carta, p.19, ISBN 965-220-423-4 (Hebrew)