Kokhav Ya'akov

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Kokhav Ya'akov
כּוֹכַב יַעֲקֹב‎
Houses in Kokhav Ya'akov
Houses in Kokhav Ya'akov
Etymology: Star of Jacob
Kokhav Ya'akov is located in the Central West Bank
Kokhav Ya'akov
Kokhav Ya'akov
Coordinates: 31°52′49″N 35°14′45″E / 31.88028°N 35.24583°E / 31.88028; 35.24583
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilMateh Binyamin
RegionWest Bank
AffiliationAmana
Founded1985
Population
 (2023)
3,763[1]
Websitewww.kochav-yaakov.org.il
Sign at the entrance to Kokhav Ya'akov

Kokhav Ya'akov (Hebrew: כּוֹכַב יַעֲקֹב, lit. 'Star of Jacob') is a religious Israeli settlement organized as a community settlement in the West Bank. Located near the Palestinian town of al-Bireh, it is administered by Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 3,763. The settlement is north of Jerusalem and close to the Palestinian city of Ramallah.[2]

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3][4][5]

History

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According to ARIJ Israel confiscated land from two Palestinian villages in order to construct Kokhav Ya'akov:

The settlement was established in 1985 by the Amana settlement movement, and was initially named Abir Ya'akov after rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira.[9] In 1988, its name was changed to Kokhav Ya'akov.[citation needed]

In 2013, Uri Ariel, then serving as Minister of Construction, visited Kochav Ya’akov, where he expressed support for additional home-building. Ariel indicated that he believed there was potential to construction 1,000 more homes in Kochav Ya’akov.[10]

In 2023 the Tel Zion neighbourhood was recognised as an independent settlement.[11]

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In March 2013 a heritage and tourism site promoting the legacy of Yemenite Jewry opened in Kokhav Ya'akov. Founded by Shoham Simchi, the Yemen Gallery (Hebrew: החצר התימנית) houses an art gallery and a workshop that recreates the life of Yemen's Jews. The building itself is designed in the spirit of traditional Yemenite architecture.[12][13]

Notable residents

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References

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  1. ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  2. ^ "9-year-old girl shot after terrorist infiltration alert in West Bank settlement". i24. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  3. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. December 10, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  4. ^ Amy Teibel (14 March 2012). "Israel asks court delay uprooting settler outpost". The Seattle Times. Associated Press.
  5. ^ Juliane von Mittelstaedt (17 August 2009). "Creeping Construction Boom: Jewish Settlements Threaten Viability of Palestinian State". Der Spiegel.
  6. ^ Kafr 'Aqab village profile, ARIJ, p. 15
  7. ^ Burqa Village profile, ARIJ, p. 4
  8. ^ Israeli settlers sabotaged 40 olive trees in Burqa village /Ramallah, POICA
  9. ^ "Kochav Ya'akov". Peace Now. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  10. ^ Lazaroff, Tovah (2013-08-13). "Ariel visits Kochav Ya'akov settlement, pledges more building". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  11. ^ "Settlement & Annexation Report: February 10, 2023". Foundation for Middle East Peace. 10 February 2023.
  12. ^ Moshe, Benny (5 March 2013). מיזם חדש בבנימין: החצר התימנית [New initiative in Binyamin: The Yemen Gallery]. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  13. ^ Moshe, Benny (18 March 2013). בבנימין נחנך מיזם המורשת 'החצר התימנית' [New heritage initiative launched in Binyamin: The Yemen Gallery]. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Beijing Taekwondo: Israel's Bat-El Gatterer hits the fast track". The Telegraph. July 31, 2008. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  15. ^ "Taekwondo et Cacheroute" (in French). Israel Infos. August 15, 2008. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  16. ^ "Little Bat-El aims for taekwondo gold". Haaretz. April 2, 2008. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
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