Gitit (Israeli settlement)

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
Coordinates: 32°6′3.82″N 35°23′45.59″E
District	Judea and Samaria Area
Council	Bik'at HaYarden
Region	West Bank
Affiliation	Mishkei Herut Beitar
Founded	1972
Founded by	Nahal
Population  (2022)[1]	502
Website	www.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]}