Neve Ativ נווה אטי"ב | |
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![]() View of Neve Ativ | |
Coordinates: 33°15′42″N35°44′28″E / 33.26167°N 35.74111°E | |
District | Northern |
Council | Golan |
Affiliation | Agricultural Union |
Founded | 1972 |
Population (2023) [1] | 227 |
Website | neve-ativ.org.il |
Neve Ativ (Hebrew : נווה אטי"ב), is an Israeli settlement organized as a small Alpine-styled moshav in the Golan Heights. Located on the slopes of Mount Hermon, 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) west of Majdal Shams. [2] it falls under the jurisdiction of Golan Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 227. [1]
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights illegal under international law, though the Israeli and United States governments dispute this. [3] [4]
The name Ativ is an acronym for four fallen soldiers from the Egoz Reconnaissance Unit killed in action in the Golan: Avraham Hameiri, Tuvia Ellinger, Yair Elegarnty, and Binyamin Hadad. Neve means Oasis.
Israel and Syria fought major battles in the area in 1967 and 1973, and it remains a strategic military position. [5] Neve Ativ was built on the land of the destroyed Syrian village of Jubata ez-Zeit. [6] [7] It was founded in 1972, when the Golan region was a part of the Israeli Military Governorate, governed by military occupation system. In 1981, the area of Golan was unilaterally annexed by Israel.
In November 1996, a dining room in the settlement was set on fire and the walls on the building had "Down With the Occupation" and "The Golan Belongs to Syria" painted on them. Pro-Syrian Druze were believed to be behind it. [8]
The moshav's main industry is tourism. Neve Ativ operates the nearby Mount Hermon ski resort, [9] which has 25 kilometers (16 mi) of ski runs on the southern slopes of Mount Hermon. [10] [11] The resort was destroyed in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, but re-opened the following year. [9]