District Judea and Samaria Area Region West Bank Founded by Nahal Founded 1970 | Council Bik'at HaYarden Affiliation Kibbutz Movement Population (2015) 171 | |
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Weather 15°C, Wind NW at 3 km/h, 71% Humidity | ||
Gilgal (Hebrew: גִּלְגָּל) is an Israeli settlement organized as a kibbutz in the West Bank. Located in the Jordan Valley around 16 kilometres north of Jericho with an area of 1,400 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 171.
Contents
Map of Gilgal
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.
History
Gilgal was established in 1970 as a Nahal settlement. It was named for the ancient Biblical site of Gilgal, which is thought to have been located at Khirbet al-Mafjir two kilometres north-east of Jericho. It was converted to a civilian kibbutz in 1973.
Economy
Gilgal has invested millions of dollars in state-of-the-art water technology to boost its production of medjool dates. The system is based on the utilization of wastewater.