Ma'ale Efrayim (Hebrew: מַעֲלֵה אֶפְרַיִם, lit. Ascent of Ephraim)[2] is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, organized as a secular settlement and a local council, located along the eastern slopes of the Samarian mountains in the Jordan Valley.[3] It was founded in 1978 and named after the Biblical tribe of Ephraim.[3] The settlement's municipal status was upgraded to local council in 1981.[3] In 2022, it had a population of 1,377.

Ma'ale Efraim
  • מַעֲלֵה אֶפְרַיִם
  • معلي افرايم
Local council (from 1981)
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • ISO 259Maˁle ʔepraym
 • Also spelledMa'ale Efraim, Maaleh Efraim (unofficial)
View on Ma'ale Efraim from the west
View on Ma'ale Efraim from the west
Ma'ale Efraim is located in the Central West Bank
Ma'ale Efraim
Ma'ale Efraim
Coordinates: 32°4′13.54″N 35°24′13.01″E / 32.0704278°N 35.4036139°E / 32.0704278; 35.4036139
RegionWest Bank
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
Founded1978
Government
 • Head of MunicipalityShlomo Lalosh
Area
 • Total
4,173 dunams (4.173 km2 or 1.611 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)[1]
 • Total
1,377
 • Density330/km2 (850/sq mi)

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[4]

History

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According to ARIJ, in 1970 Israel illegally confiscated 1,464 dunams of land from the Palestinian land in order to construct Ma'ale Efrayim.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ Carta's Official Guide to Israel and Complete Gazetteer to all Sites in the Holy Land. (3rd edition 1993) Jerusalem, Carta, p.302, ISBN 965-220-186-3 (English)
  3. ^ a b c מועצה מקומית מעלה אפרים (in Hebrew). 2014.
  4. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  5. ^ Al Jiftlik Village Profile p. 17, ARIJ
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