Modi'in Illit
Modi'in Illit
Main page
2099421

Modi'in Illit

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
2099421

Modi'in Illit

logo
Community Hub0 subscribers
What are your thoughts?
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Modi'in Illit

31°55′50″N 35°2′30″E / 31.93056°N 35.04167°E / 31.93056; 35.04167

Modi'in Illit (Hebrew: מוֹדִיעִין עִלִּית; Arabic: موديعين عيليت, lit. "Upper Modi'in") is a Haredi Jewish-Israeli settlement organized as a city council in the West Bank, situated midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Built on the land of five Palestinian villages–Ni'lin, Kharbata, Saffa, Bil'in, and Dir Qadis–Modi'in Illit was granted city status by the Israeli government in 2008. The international community has largely viewed Israeli settlements in the West Bank, referred to by Israel as Judea and Samaria, as illegal under international law. However, Israel disputes this interpretation and maintains that settlements are legal and consistent with international law, citing historical, legal, and security reasons. This position has been upheld by successive Israeli governments.

It is located six kilometres (3.7 miles) northeast of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and is often referred to as Kiryat Sefer (lit. "Book Town"), the name of its first neighborhood, established in 1994. Modi'in Illit also encompasses the neighborhood of Achuzat Brachfeld (Brachfeld Estates). In 2023, it had a total population of 87,486, making it the largest Jewish settlement in the area.

Two archaeological sites lie within the settlement's area: Khirbet Badd 'Isa and Khirbet Abu ad-Danin. Both were Jewish villages of the late Second Temple period, abandoned after the Bar Kokhba revolt and resettled on a limited scale in Late Antiquity.

A place named Kiryat Sefer (also called Dvir) is mentioned several times in the Book of Joshua and in the Book of Judges. However, this place is situated south of Hebron, and the Israeli Governmental names committee rejected calling the town Kiryat Sefer as was proposed initially, electing the name Modi'in Illit.

According to ARIJ the settlement was built on the land confiscated from several Palestinian villages:

The barrier surrounding the city divides the nearby village of Bil'in from most of its olive groves and other agricultural land and is the subject of the documentary 5 Broken Cameras. The homes in Kiryat Sefer were completed in 1994, and the local council of Modi'in Illit was given city status on March 7, 2008.[citation needed] In keeping with its name, which means "Book Town," most of Kiryat Sefer's streets are named after a landmark sefer (book) written by Gedolei Yisrael. These include: Chofetz Chaim, Noda BiYehuda, Meshech Chochma, Avnei Nezer, and Sdei Chemed.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.