Tzofim Explained

Tzufim
Hebname: /
Foundation:1989
Altoffsp:Tzufim
District:js
Council:Shomron
Pushpin Map:Israel shomron
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Coordinates:32.1981°N 35.0092°W

Tzufim (Hebrew: צוּפִים), or Tzufin, is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located north of Alfei Menashe and Qalqilyah and northeast of Kfar Saba, it is organised as a community settlement and falls under the jurisdiction of Shomron Regional Council. In it had a population of .

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[1]

History

According to ARIJ, Israel confiscated 753 dunums of land from the Palestinian village of Jayyus in order to construct Tzofim.[2]

Tzufim was established in 1989 with assistance from the Amana settlement organization. The population is made up of a mixed group of Orthodox and non-religious Israelis.

The village is located in an area described as the seam zone and its proximity to the Green Line (less than 2 kilometres east of it) and its similar proximity to the Palestinian town of Qalqilyah has made its inclusion on the Israeli side of the West Bank barrier controversial, especially as the looping nature of the barrier's path forms a quasi-enclave of some Arab villages to its south.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: The Geneva Convention . BBC News . 10 December 2009 . 27 September 2011 .
  2. http://vprofile.arij.org/qalqiliya/pdfs/vprofile/jayyus_vp_en.pdf Jayyus Town Profile (including Khirbet Sir Locality)