Mishmar Ayalon (Hebrew: מִשְׁמַר אַיָּלוֹן, lit. Ayalon Guard) is a moshav in central Israel. Located between Latrun and Ramla on the old Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gezer Regional Council. In 2022 it had a population of 580.[1]

Mishmar Ayalon
מִשְׁמַר אַיָּלוֹן
Mishmar Ayalon is located in Central Israel
Mishmar Ayalon
Mishmar Ayalon
Coordinates: 31°52′28″N 34°56′46″E / 31.87444°N 34.94611°E / 31.87444; 34.94611
CountryIsrael
DistrictCentral
CouncilGezer
AffiliationMoshavim Movement
Founded1949
Founded byCzechoslovakian Jewish immigrants
Population
 (2022)[1]
580

Etymology

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The moshav overlooks the Biblical valley of Ayalon (Joshua 10:12), after which it is named.[2]

History

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The moshav was founded in 1949 by a gar'in of Jewish Holocaust survivors from Czechoslovakia. The land had previously belonged to the depopulated Palestinian Arab village of Al-Qubab.[3]

The Lehi forest is located in the moshav. In 2005 a monument to Lehi fighters (the Stern Gang) was erected in the village.[4]

The moshav's main industry is agriculture, particularly focusing on fruit, vegetables and dairy farming known for their high quality cheese.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p. 333, ISBN 965-220-186-3
  3. ^ Khalidi, Walid (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. p. 407. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
  4. ^ Lechi monument in the village of Mishmar Ayalon Israel and You