Population (2015) 7,313 Founded 1985 | Name meaning Star of Jacob | |
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Weather 9°C, Wind W at 11 km/h, 76% Humidity | ||
Kokhav Ya'akov (Hebrew: כּוֹכַב יַעֲקֹב, lit. Star of Jacob) is a religious communal Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located between Ramah in Benjamin and Beit El near al-Bireh about 10 minutes away by car from the Jerusalem neighborhoods of Pisgat Ze'ev and Neve Yaakov, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 7,313.
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Map of Kokhav Ya'akov
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.
History
The settlement was established in 1985 by the Amana settlement movement, and was initially named Abir Ya'akov after rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira. In 1988, its name was changed to Kokhav Ya'akov.
The Haredi neighborhood of Tel Zion, established in 1990, is part of the village.
Yemen Gallery
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.