Eilon

Eilon (Hebrew: אֵילוֹן) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located a mile south of Lebanese border and six miles east of the Mediterranean coast, the kibbutz sits on a ridge between two streams, Nahal Betzet and Nahal Kziv and falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Asher Regional Council. In 2012 it had a population of around 943.

Etymology

The name Eilon is derived from Elah (terebinth ) and Allon (oak), two tree species abundant in this heavily forested area of northern Israel, though specifically referred to the "remnants of ancient trees in the vicinity." The Polish-Jewish immigrants cleared the forest and planted orchards to feed a small population on a rocky hillside.

History

Kibbutz Eilon, situated a short distance from the Lebanese border, was established in 1938 on 400 dunams of land in Khirbet Samak purchased by the Jewish National Fund. It was settled that year by a group of Polish immigrants and Palestinian Jews. The inhabitants found themselves under constant fire in the wake of the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine. Eilon was one of the early tower and stockade settlements. In 1947, the kibbutz had a population of 350, successfully reclaiming rocky land that had been designated by the British Mandatory government as uncultivable. The kibbutz was initially affiliated with Hashomer Hatzair. Calm was achieved after the Galilee was cleared of Lebanese troops and Kaukji's bands in November 1948. When the israelis from the liberated town of Tarshisha appeared coming up the path the inhabitants defending the kibbutz could hardly believe their good fortune.