View source for Petza'el

{{Short description|Israeli settlement in the West Bank}}
{{Infobox Kibbutz
| name = Petza'el
| image =File:Fatzael Valley 052.JPG
| caption =
| hebname = {{Script/Hebrew|פְּצָאֵל}}
| foundation = 1970
| founded_by = [[Moshavim Movement]]
| district = js
| country =
| council = [[Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council|Bik'at HaYarden]]
| affiliation = [[Moshavim Movement]]
| popyear = {{Israel populations|Year}}
| population = {{Israel populations|Peza'el}}
| population_footnotes={{Israel populations|reference}}
| pushpin_map = Israel binyamin | pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_mapsize = 260
| coordinates = {{coord|32|02|39|N|35|26|32|E|display=inline,title}}
| website =
}}
'''Petza'el''' ({{langx|he|פְּצָאֵל}}) is a [[moshav]] and [[Israeli settlement]] in the [[West Bank]]. Located in the center of the [[Jordan Valley (Middle East)|Jordan Valley]], 34.5 kilometers from the [[Green line (Israel)|Green line]], it falls under the jurisdiction of [[Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council]].<ref name="jv"/> In {{Israel populations|Year}} it had a population of {{Israel populations|Peza'el}}. It is named for [[Phasael]], older brother of [[Herod the Great]], for whom he had named a city nearby in ancient times.
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank [[International law and Israeli settlements|illegal under international law]], but the Israeli and US governments dispute this.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1682640.stm |title=The Geneva Convention |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=10 December 2009 |accessdate=27 November 2010 }}</ref>
==Name==
{{Main|Phasael (name)}}
==History==
{{Main|Fasayil#History and archaeology}}
During the [[Timeline of Palestine region#Roman period |Roman period]], King [[Herod the Great]] of [[Judea (Roman province) |Judaea]] established a new city in the [[Jordan Valley]] north of Jericho, which he named '''Phasaelis''' ({{langx|grc|Φασαηλίς}}, ''Phasaēlís''<ref>[https://topostext.org/place/320354UPha Phasaelis (Palestina) 11 Fasayil - Φασαηλίς] at ToposText, Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation. Accessed 24 April 2024.</ref>), in dedication to his elder brother [[Phasael]].<ref>[[Josephus]], ''Jewish War'' [https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/flavius-josephus/war-of-the-jews/book-1/chapter-21.html 1.21.9];</ref> Its remains were identified in the area (more at [[Fasayil#History and archaeology |Fasayil: History and archaeology]]).
===Modern Petza'el===
Petza'el was established near [[Ma'ale Efraim]] in 1970 by former soldiers who were members of the [[Moshavim Movement]]. The settlement was initially administered as both a moshav and a [[kibbutz]]. In 1975 the settlement moved to a location in the valley where the agricultural fields of the members were located. According to [[Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem|ARIJ]], in order to construct  Petza'el [[Israel]] [[Land expropriation in the West Bank|confiscated]] land from two [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] villages: 1,242 [[dunam]]s from [[Fasayil]],<ref>[http://vprofile.arij.org/jericho/pdfs/vprofile/Fasayil_vp_Final.pdf Fasayil Village Profile] p. 17, ARIJ</ref> 176 dunams from [[Al-Jiftlik]]<ref>[http://vprofile.arij.org/jericho/pdfs/vprofile/Al%20Jiftlik_en_FINAL.pdf Al Jiftlik Village Profile] p. 17, ARIJ</ref>
In recent years,{{when |date= April 2024}} the settlements has absorbed around 30 new families, mostly the children of the founding members.<ref name="jv">{{cite web|title=פצאל [Petza'el]|url=http://www.jordanvalley.org.il/page_49323|website=Bik'at HaYarden regional council website}}</ref><ref name=lexicon>Hareuveni, Immanuel; ''Eretz Yisrael Lexicon''; [[Ministry of Education (Israel)|Ministry of Education]] p.[http://www.kotar.co.il/KotarApp/Viewer.aspx?nBookID=93576566#797.3236.8.fitwidth 796]</ref>
==Economy==
Most of the settlement's residents earn their living from agriculture. The younger members work in both agriculture and other jobs.<ref name="jv"/>
[[File:Fatzael 7 039.JPG|thumb|Archaeological dig on the outskirts of Petza'el]]
In the 2013 the settlement had 3,960 dunams of cultivated land, of which 2,700 dunams was used for [[date palm]]s, 800 for vineyards, 400 for vegetables (mostly peppers) and 60 for flowers.<ref name="jv"/> Most of the agricultural output is designated for export.<ref>{{cite web|title=פצאל [Petza'el]|url=http://www.bikathayarden.co.il/index/%D7%A4%D7%A6%D7%90%D7%9C|website=Jordan Valley Tourism}}</ref>
There are conflicting views about the builder of a race track near the settlement. [[Haaretz]] reported the illegal race track was built by the west bank regional council by using public funds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-west-bank-regional-council-built-illegal-racetrack-on-public-israeli-funds-1.6660884|title=West Bank regional council built illegal racetrack with public Israeli funds|newspaper=Haaretz}}</ref>
==Community and civic services==
The settlement operates two kindergartens, several clubs for the members, a synagogue, pool, grocery store and recreation sites. Some of the electricity is created by solar panels in the settlements and some residents also use solar panels for their personal use.<ref name="jv"/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Moshavim]]
[[Category:Israeli settlements in the West Bank]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1970]]
[[Category:1970 establishments in the Israeli Military Governorate]]
[[Category:Salome I]]