Beka'ot

Beka'ot (Hebrew: בקעות, lit. 'Valleys') is an Israeli settlement organized as a moshav in the West Bank.^[2] Located in the Jordan Valley with an area of 1,800 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council.^[2] In 2022 it had a population of 187.^[1]

Beka'ot בקעות
Etymology: Valleys
Beka'ot Show map of the Northern West Bank Beka'ot Show map of the West Bank
Coordinates: 32°14′32″N 35°27′10″E
District	Judea and Samaria Area
Council	Bik'at HaYarden
Region	West Bank
Affiliation	Agricultural Union
Founded	1972
Population  (2022)[1]	187

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

History

The village was established in 1972, and was initially called Buka.^[4]

The Israel Defense Forces has a roadblock on the main highway leading to the moshav, known as the Beka'ot Checkpoint. It has been the scene of several fatal incidents; on 8 January 2011 a 20-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead while trying to throw a pipe bomb at soldiers. The previous week another Palestinian, aged 20, had been shot dead.^[5] On 26 June 2015 a 25-year-old armed Palestinian was shot dead,^[6] and on 9 January 2016 two Palestinian men, aged 23 and 38, were shot dead attempting to stab IDF soldiers.^[7][8]