Erez
ארז
إيرز
Erez in early 1949
Erez in early 1949
Erez is located in Ashkelon region of Israel
Erez
Erez
Erez is located in Israel
Erez
Erez
Coordinates: 31°33′36″N 34°33′58″E / 31.56000°N 34.56611°E / 31.56000; 34.56611
Country Israel
DistrictSouthern
CouncilShaʽar HaNegev
AffiliationKibbutz Movement
Founded1949 (original location)
1950 (current location)
Founded byNoar HaOved
Population
 (2021)[1]
608
Websitewww.erez.org.il

Erez (Hebrew: אֶרֶז, lit.'cedar') is a kibbutz in southwestern Israel. Located just 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) north of the Gaza Strip, it is the namesake of the nearby Erez Crossing.

The kibbutz was founded in 1949 and moved to its current location in 1950. In 2019, it had a population of 558.[1]

Located in the northwestern Negev around 18 kilometres (11 mi) south of the coastal city of Ashkelon, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Shaʽar HaNegev Regional Council.

History

Erez is named after the first group that settled the kibbutz, who were members of the Noar HaOved from Petah Tikva. It was founded in 1949.

On 7 October 2023, the kibbutz was attacked in the opening stage of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. The kibbutz security team repulsed the attack in an hours-long battle, losing one of its members.[2]

Economy

The kibbutz has three main industries: agriculture (arable and fruit farming as well as animal husbandry), manufacturing (Erez Thermoplastics Products manufactures plastic-covered materials), and research and development.

See also

  • Erez Crossing, a border crossing point between Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip

References

  1. 1 2 "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  2. Untrained, lacking proper arms, local security teams defended their Gaza border homes
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