Tzur Natan Explained

Tzur Natan
Foundation:1966
Founded By:Nahal
District:center
Council:Drom HaSharon
Affiliation:Mishkei Herut Beitar
Pushpin Map:Israel center ta
Pushpin Mapsize:250
Coordinates:32.2403°N 35.0117°W

Tzur Natan (Hebrew: צוּר נָתָן, lit. Rock of Nathan) is a Moshav shitufi in central Israel. Located in western Samaria on a hilltop, 170 m above sea level, on a ridge in the foothills of the Samaritan Hills and to the south of Tayibe,[1] [2] it falls under the jurisdiction of Drom HaSharon Regional Council. In it had a population of .

History

The moshav was founded in 1966 as a Nahal settlement by Hashomer Hatzair members, and was named after Nathan Simons. It was civilianised a year later by former members of the Beitar youth group.

In 2017, a minority of Tzur Natan families agreed to sell their land to a natural gas and diesel power station to be constructed by Edeltech only meters from the Arab Israeli city of Tira.

Archaeology

In 2019, a 5th-century mosaic with Greek inscription found at an ancient wine press. The inscription reads, “Only God help the beautiful property of Master Adios, amen.” Adios was a wealthy Samaritan landowner.[3]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail_eng.asp?search=&id=976&mag_id=114 Zur Natan - Final Report
  2. http://www.tfahr.org/files/TFAHR.pdf Introduction to the Excavations at Zur Natan, E. Ayalon, E. Matthews, W. Neidinger, Texas foundation for Archaeological and Historical Research, 1994
  3. https://www.timesofisrael.com/5th-century-greek-inscription-found-at-site-of-ancient-samaritan-rebellion/ 5th century Greek inscription found at site of ancient Samaritan rebellion