Eyal

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EYAL

EYAL (Heb. אֱיָל; "strength"), kibbutz in central Israel, on the eastern border of the Sharon, northeast of the Arab town Qalqilya, affiliated with Ha-Kibbutz ha-Me'uḥad. Eyal was originally founded on July 3, 1947 as a *Palmaḥ outpost near the Syrian border east of Lake Huleh, where it fulfilled a vital function during the Israel War of Independence (1948). After the war, the settlement was transferred (Nov. 1, 1948) to its present site, which was also vulnerable to attack until the Six-Day War of 1967. Its farming was based on field crops, orchards including organic farming and milch cattle. The kibbutz operates two factories: Eyal Microwave for microwave components and one for optical lenses (in partnership with kibbutz *Shamir). In 2002 the population was 385.

website:

www.eyal.org.il.

[Efraim Orni /

Shaked Gilboa (2nd ed.)]