Ma'ale Shomron

Ma'ale Shomron (Hebrew: מַעֲלֵה שׁוֹמְרוֹן) is an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank. Located about 300 metres above sea level, it is organised as a community settlement and falls under the jurisdiction of Shomron Regional Council. In 2019 it had a population of 996.^[1]

Ma'ale Shomron מַעֲלֵה שׁוֹמְרוֹן‎
Ma'ale Shomron
Coordinates: 32°9′53″N 35°4′16″E
District	Judea and Samaria Area
Council	Shomron
Region	West Bank
Affiliation	Mishkei Herut Beitar
Founded	1980
Population  (2019)[1]	996

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.^[2]

History

The settlement was established in February 1980 by a mixed group of Orthodox and non-religious Israelis from the Beitar and Herut movements.^[3] It is closely bordered by Karnei Shomron.

According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated land from several Palestinian villages in order to construct Ma'ale Shomron, including 268 dunums of land from Azzun,^[4] 69 dunams from Deir Istiya,^[5] and 367 dunums of land from Kafr Thulth / Arab Al Khouleh (including land for Karnei Shomron and Emmanuel).^[6]

Archaeology

Located within the settlement is the archaeological site of Khirbet Jamma'in, where an ancient Israelite village from the First Temple period (Iron Age II) was discovered in 1976. A salvage excavation carried out in 1979, just before the establishment of the settlement, revealed a range of structures including four-room houses, an olive oil press, a winepress, a watering hole, a quarry, and terraces. The archaeological evidence suggests that the village likely housed a population of around 600 to 800 individuals. However, by the 7th century BCE, the site had been abandoned.^[7]

Notable residents

• Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, former Consul General of Israel in New York City and former head of Yesha Council^{[citation needed]}