District Judea and Samaria Area Region West Bank Founded 18 June 1971 | Council Bik'at HaYarden Affiliation Kibbutz Movement Founded by Nahal | |
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Weather 14°C, Wind N at 3 km/h, 45% Humidity | ||
Niran (Hebrew: נערן or נִירָן) is a kibbutz and Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located in Area C of the Jordan Valley near Jericho, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 85.
Contents
Map of Na'aran
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.
History
Niran was established on 18 June 1971 as a Nahal settlement by the Nahal Command in collaboration with the Agricultural Settlement Department of the Jewish Agency on land prepared by the Jewish National Fund. Niran began its existence as "a tented outpost of a few dozen persons." The barren conditions required that soil be carried up from surrounding valleys to make agriculture viable. During its time as a military outpost, it was used to prevent armed infiltration from Jordan and as a disciplinary assignment for delinquent Israeli soldiers. It was demilitarized and converted to a civilian kibbutz in 1977. It is named after the biblical city of Naaran.
Culture
The kibbutz organizes workshops on Zionism, Judaism and Israeli society. Some members of the kibbutz work in the date groves or at the local plastics factory, P.V.Ran, which manufactures packaging and wrappings for food products in compliance with international standards.
Archaeological findings
The ruins of a 6th-century synagogue were discovered in Naaran, a short distance from the kibbutz. The site contains an ancient mosaic and archeological treasures and attracts both worshippers and pilgrims. In May 2012, the ancient synagogue was vandalized with graffiti that included swastikas and Palestinian flags.