Ramot Eshkol

Ramot Eshkol is a neighborhood in Jerusalem, Israel established after the Six-Day War in 1967. It is rapidly becoming one of Jerusalem's most sought-after locations. It is close to Sanhedria Murchevet and the Ramat Eshkol shopping center and within walking distance to the Western Wall. In recent years it has become a wildly popular suburb for young religious families especially for those originating from the United States and Canada, and most recently, the United Kingdom.

Historical background

In 1966, the border with Jordan ran parallel to Shmuel Hanavi Street. Beyond was a no man's land and the bunkers and fortifications of Ammunition Hill, the site of fierce battles between Jordanian and Israeli forces in the 1967 war.

Construction on Sderot Eshkol (Eshkol Boulevard), named for Israeli prime minister Levi Eshkol, began in 1968 [ [http://www.ajerusalemhome.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=53 Ramat Eshkol - Eli Joseph's Jerusalem Real Estate Homepage and Buyer's Guide - A Jerusalem Home.com ] ]

Israel Levitt of the Israel Defense Force Engineering Corps cleared the mines on what is now Etzion Gaver street. Levitt, also a trained architect, designed the first buildings there. In January 1970, the first occupants moved in. There were no roads, and the nearest bus was on Shmuel Hanavi. The first minyan was held in an air raid shelter on Etzion Gaver street, before the completion of a synagogue.

Government policy at the time was to create a contiguous link from Shmuel Hanavi to French Hill and the campus of Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Mount Scopus. [ [http://www.meforum.org/article/343 Understanding Jerusalem - Middle East Quarterly ] ] A new bus line, number 9, was inaugurated to link the Mount Scopus campus with the campus in Givat Ram, built when the road to Mount Scopus was blocked by the Jordanians. The route of the bus followed the route of the convoy attacked on April 13, 1948, killing doctors and nurses of Hadassah Hospital.

ubdistricts

French Hill was named after the British general by the name of French who wrested it from the Turks in World War I. Givat Shapira was named after the Israeli minister of justice, Yaacov Shimshon Shapira. [ [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1960_1969/The%20Governments%20of%20Israel-%2013th%20Government%20-Januar The Governments of Israel- 13th Government -Januar ] ] Building also began at this time in Givat Hamivtar. Plots were raffled off for the construction of single-family homes. A time limit was imposed on construction and access was difficult. The only access was via a muddy track. The construction of private homes on Ramat Hagolan Street in Ramat Eshkol also employed the lottery method.

Parks and memorials

After the Six-Day War, Ammunition Hill was restored and turned into a park and memorial site. Ramat Eshkol also has a park dedicated to Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved many Jews during World War II. The neighborhood's largest park is Gan HaHamishah Asar (Park of the Fifteen) commemorating fifteen soldiers killed in 1969 in one day of fighting during the War of Attrition.

Archaeology

The Eshkolot Tomb in Ramat Eshkol was discovered in the early 1970s during the excavation of building foundations. It is named for the stone carving of a cluster of grapes over the entrance. [ [http://www.biblelandpictures.com/gallery/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&categoryid=73&text=&imageid=9179&box=&shownew= Top > Archeology > Tombs And Burials > 1712-5-Eshkoloth-cave.jpg:: Zev Radovan's Gallery ] ]

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