Mateh Yehuda Regional Council

Mateh Yehuda
מטה יהודה‎
ماتيه يهودا
Regional council (from 1964)
Location of Mateh Yehuda
DistrictJerusalem District
Government
 • Head of MunicipalityNiv Vizel
Area
 • Total480,420 dunams (480.42 km2 or 185.49 sq mi)
Population
 (2024)
 • Total51,125
 • Density110/km2 (280/sq mi)
WebsiteOfficial website

Mateh Yehuda Regional Council (Hebrew: מועצה אזורית מטה יהודה, Mo'atza Azorit Mateh Yehuda, Arabic: مجلس إقليمي ماتيه يهودا ) is a regional council in the Jerusalem District of Israel. In 2024 it was home to 51,125 people.

The name of the regional council stems from the fact that its territory was part of the land allotted to the Tribe of Judah, according to the Bible.

Places and communities

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The regional council administers moshavim, kibbutzim, Arab villages and other rural settlements in the Jerusalem corridor, north and south of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, from Jerusalem in the southeast to Latrun in the northwest, and down to the area of Beit Shemesh (Ha'ela Valley) in the south.

The settlements vary greatly in their character. There are religious, secular and mixed Jewish communities, two Arab communities, and the only mixed Arab-Jewish village in Israel - Neve Shalom. Many of the Jewish communities in the Mateh Yehuda district were established by immigrants from India, Yemen, Iraq, Iran and countries in Eastern Europe.

30% of the lands of the Palestinian village of Battir in the West Bank, as well as a few of its buildings,[1][2] lie on the Israeli side of the Green Line. These parts of Battir are nominally within the regional council's area of jurisdiction, but authority over them is exercised by the PA municipality of Battir in practice.

List of villages

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Tourism

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The tourist activities in the area include mountain hiking, major sections on the Israel National Trail, biking and historical sight seeing. Other attractions include natural phenomenon as Avshalom stalactites cave and natural water springs. Mate Yehuda is also home to goat cheese farms, over 30 wineries, including award-winning Katlav and Nevo, 11 breweries and dozens of artists.

Partnerships

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The regional council has sister city-like partnerships with these municipalities:

The regional council and Beit Shemesh are linked to South Africa and Washington, D.C., in the Partnership 2gether program of the Jewish Agency for Israel.[4]

References

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  1. ^ West Bank barrier threatens villagers' way of life. BBC News. 2012-05-09.
  2. ^ Daniella Cheslow (May 14, 2012). "West Bank Barrier Threatens Farms". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  3. ^ "New high-end settlement in Judean hills overlooks valley where David fought Goliath". All Israel News. September 6, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "Jewish Agency for Israel: Beit Shemesh - Mateh Yehuda - Washington - South Africa". Retrieved 2011-12-18.
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31°45′N 34°53′E / 31.750°N 34.883°E / 31.750; 34.883

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