Kokhav Ya'akov

Kokhav Ya'akov
  • כּוֹכַב יַעֲקֹב (Hebrew)
Houses in Kokhav Ya'akov
Houses in Kokhav Ya'akov
Etymology: Star of Jacob
Kokhav Ya'akov is located in the Central West Bank
Kokhav Ya'akov
Kokhav Ya'akov
Location within the Central West Bank
Coordinates: 31°52′49″N 35°14′45″E / 31.88028°N 35.24583°E / 31.88028; 35.24583
CountryIsrael
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilMateh Binyamin
RegionWest Bank
AffiliationAmana
Founded1985
Population
 (2024)
4,093
Websitewww.kochav-yaakov.org.il
Sign at the entrance to Kokhav Ya'akov

Kokhav Ya'akov (Hebrew: כּוֹכַב יַעֲקֹב, lit. 'Star of Jacob') is a religious Israeli settlement organized as a community settlement in the West Bank. Located near the Palestinian town of al-Bireh, it is administered by Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. In 2024 it had a population of 4,093. The settlement is north of Jerusalem and close to the Palestinian city of Ramallah.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.

History

According to ARIJ Israel confiscated land from two Palestinian villages in order to construct Kokhav Ya'akov:

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.[citation needed]

In 2013, Uri Ariel, then serving as Minister of Construction, visited Kochav Ya’akov, where he expressed support for additional home-building. Ariel indicated that he believed there was potential to construction 1,000 more homes in Kochav Ya’akov.

In 2023 the Tel Zion neighbourhood was recognised as an independent settlement.

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.

Voting Patterns

In the 2022 election, 98 percent of voters in Kokhav Ya'akov voted for the parties of the right-wing coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu, while 1 percent voted for the parties of the center-left coalition led by Yair Lapid and 0.05 percent voted for the Arab parties. 60 percent of voters voted for the Haredi parties Shas or UTJ.

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "9-year-old girl shot after terrorist infiltration alert in West Bank settlement". i24. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  3. ↑ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. December 10, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2010.
  4. ↑ Amy Teibel (14 March 2012). "Israel asks court delay uprooting settler outpost". The Seattle Times. Associated Press.
  5. ↑ Juliane von Mittelstaedt (17 August 2009). "Creeping Construction Boom: Jewish Settlements Threaten Viability of Palestinian State". Der Spiegel.
  6. ↑ Kafr 'Aqab village profile, ARIJ, p. 15
  7. ↑ Burqa Village profile, ARIJ, p. 4
  8. ↑ Israeli settlers sabotaged 40 olive trees in Burqa village /Ramallah, POICA
  9. ↑ "Kochav Ya'akov". Peace Now. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  10. ↑ Lazaroff, Tovah (2013-08-13). "Ariel visits Kochav Ya'akov settlement, pledges more building". The Jerusalem Post. ISSN 0792-822X. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  11. ↑ "Settlement & Annexation Report: February 10, 2023". Foundation for Middle East Peace. 10 February 2023.
  12. ↑ Moshe, Benny (5 March 2013). מיזם חדש בבנימין: החצר התימנית [New initiative in Binyamin: The Yemen Gallery]. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  13. ↑ Moshe, Benny (18 March 2013). בבנימין נחנך מיזם המורשת 'החצר התימנית' [New heritage initiative launched in Binyamin: The Yemen Gallery]. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  14. ↑ "The true results of the elections for the 25th Knesset". Israel: Central Elections Committee. November 1, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Beijing Taekwondo: Israel's Bat-El Gatterer hits the fast track". The Telegraph. July 31, 2008. Archived from the original on May 31, 2010. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Taekwondo et Cacheroute" (in French). Israel Infos. August 15, 2008. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  17. ↑ "Little Bat-El aims for taekwondo gold". Haaretz. April 2, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2011.