Yiftah
Kibbutz in Northern, Israel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yiftah (Hebrew: יפתח, lit. 'He will open') is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located on the Naftali Mountains of the Upper Galilee, near the Lebanese border, it falls under the jurisdiction of Upper Galilee Regional Council. In 2023 it had a population of 649.[1]
Yiftah
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| Etymology: He will open | |
  Yiftah  Yiftah | |
| Coordinates: 33°7′40″N 35°33′6″E | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Council | Upper Galilee |
| Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
| Founded | 18 August 1948 |
| Founded by | Demobilised Palmach soldiers |
| Population (2023) | 649[1] |
| Website | yiftah.kibbutz.org.il |
History
Yiftah was founded on 18 August 1948 by demobilised Palmach soldiers who were members of the Yiftach Brigade, after which the kibbutz is named. Yiftah is located near the depopulated Palestinian Arab village of Jahula,[2] but on the land belonging to the archaeological site of Tel Kedesh.[3] Metzudat Koach is located nearby.
During the Gaza war, northern Israeli border communities, including Yiftah, faced targeted attacks by Hezbollah and Palestinian factions based in Southern Lebanon, and were evacuated.[4] On 5 November 2023, a driver operating an Israeli water tank for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) was killed by an anti-tank missile launched by Hezbollah operatives near the kibbutz.[5] On 19 December, Hezbollah fired artillery shells at Yiftah.[6]
Yiftah under construction, 1948
Opening of dining hall with Mount Hermon in distance, 1948
Houses in Yiftah, 1949
Workshop for agricultural tools in Yiftah, 1949
Yiftah fields, 1952
Dining hall of Yiftah, 1952
