Masada, Emek HaYarden

Masada
Founded	1937
Founded by	Romanian immigrants
Council	Emek HaYarden
Region	Jordan Valley
Affiliation	Kibbutz Movement
Coordinates	32°41′0.23″N 35°35′54.6″E / 32.6833972°N 35.5985°E / 32.6833972; 35.5985Coordinates: 32°41′0.23″N 35°35′54.6″E / 32.6833972°N 35.5985°E / 32.6833972; 35.5985
Masada

Masada (Hebrew: מַסָּדָה‎‎, lit. base or foundation) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the northern Jordan Valley near the Sea of Galilee, it falls under the jurisdiction of Emek HaYarden Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 296.

History

The kibbutz was founded in 1937 as part of the tower and stockade program by immigrants from Romania and members of kibbutz Sha'ar HaGolan. The name was taken from the fortress of Masada, by the Dead Sea.

As with Sha'ar HaGolan, the kibbutz's defenders retreated during the Battles of the Kinarot Valley of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The kibbutzim were captured and briefly held by the Syrian Army, during which time they were looted and burned down. Although the members soon returned, a stigma was attached to them, and vindication in the form of released military records only arrived in recent years.^[1]

Masada, like dozens of the kibbutzim near the Sea of Galilee, existed under the shadow of the Golan Heights. On 29 March 1968 a tractor from Masada hit a landmine, killing the driver and three passengers. Israeli forces came to evacuate the casualties, and Jordanian forces opened fire on them. In retaliation, the Israel Air Force attacked Jordanian targets east of Beit She'an. Several planes were damaged by anti-aircraft fire yet returned safely to base.

In 2006 the kibbutz was privatized.

Notable residents

• Ofer Lifschitz, politician

References

1. ^ Zionist mythology destroys its children Haaretz, 6 April 2006