Nofei Nehemia Explained

Pushpin Map:Israel shomron
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Pushpin Label Position:top
Coordinates:32.0981°N 35.2358°W
Nofei Nehemia
Meaning:Nehemia's view
District:js
Founded:2002
Founded By:Amana
Region:West Bank
Council:Shomrom
Affiliation:Jewish

Nofei Nehemia (Hebrew: נוֹפֵי נְחֶמְיָה) is an Israeli outpost in the West Bank, in the jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council in the northern West Bank. It is officially within the boundaries of Rehelim, a nearby Israeli settlement.[1] First established in 2002, it is situated adjacent to Rechelim on Route 60, between Kfar Tapuach and Eli.[2] The village also lies adjacent to the Palestinian towns of Iskaka and Yasuf. A few dozen families live on the village.

Israeli outposts are illegal under international law and also under Israeli law.

History

The village is named after Nehemia Ben Yehuda, the head of a family who owns a crane company who have been very involved in assisting the establishment of settlements in the West Bank.

The village was established in 2002 as an illegal outpost. In 2003, the Israeli government pledged to dismantle the village.[3]

In January 2021, under Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli government decided to legalize the illegal outpost of Nofei Nehemia by reclassifying it as a “neighborhood” of the Rehelim settlement, which itself was an illegal outpost that was legalized a few years prior.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: PM: Ariel will remain under Israeli sovereignty. The Jerusalem Post. 9 January 2013.
  2. Web site: Nofei Nehemia. Peace Now. 29 March 2011.
  3. News: 'Hell no, we won't go,' vow settlers, but for now they choose legal challenges. 10 June 2003 . Haaretz.
  4. Web site: 17 January 2021 . 780 Settlement Housing Units Approved Ahead of US Presidential Transition . Peace Now.