View source for Kiryat Arba

{{Short description|Israeli settlement in the West Bank}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Kiryat Arba
| native_name        = {{Hlist
 | {{Lang|he|{{Script/Hebrew|קִרְיַת־אַרְבַּע}}|rtl=yes}}
 | {{Lang|ar|قرية أربع|rtl=yes}}
 }}
| settlement_type    = [[Local council (Israel)|Local council]]
| translit_lang1     = Hebrew
| translit_lang1_type1 = [[ISO 259]]
| translit_lang1_info1 = Qiryat ʔarbaˁ
| translit_lang1_type3 = Also spelled
| translit_lang1_info3 = Qiryat Arba (official)
| image_skyline      = Kiryat Arba Square.jpg
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map        = Israel south wb
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|31|31|42|N|35|7|7|E|region:IL|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type1  = Region
| subdivision_name1  = [[West Bank]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Israel|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Judea and Samaria Area]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1968–1971
| leader_title       = Head of Municipality
| leader_name        = Israel Bramson
| unit_pref          = dunam
| area_total_dunam   = {{formatnum:4386|R}}
| population_footnotes = {{Israel populations|reference}}
| population_total   = {{Israel populations|Qiryat Arba}}
| population_as_of   = {{Israel populations|Year}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| blank_name_sec1    = Name meaning
| blank_info_sec1    = Town of the Four [Giants]
| website            = [http://www.kiryat4.org.il/ Official website]
}}
'''Kiryat Arba''' or '''Qiryat Arba''' ({{langx|he|קִרְיַת־אַרְבַּע||Town of the Four}}) is an urban [[Israeli settlement]] on the outskirts of [[Hebron]], in the southern [[Israeli-occupied territories|Israeli-occupied]] [[West Bank]]. Founded in 1968, in {{Israel populations|Year}} it had a population of {{Israel populations|Qiryat Arba}}.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank [[International law and Israeli settlements|illegal under international law]], but the Israeli government disputes this.<ref name="BBC_The_Geneva_Convention">{{cite news| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1682640.stm| title = The Geneva Convention| publisher = BBC| date=December 10, 2009}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The modern settlement derives its name from a Kiryat Arba mentioned in the [[Hebrew Bible]] as the former name of Hebron and as the place where [[Abraham]]'s wife, [[Sarah]], has died: "And Sarah died at Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron)" ({{bibleverse|Genesis|23:2}}). The [[Book of Joshua]] says: "Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba; this Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim." ({{bibleverse|Joshua|14:15}}).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0614.htm |title= Joshua 14 / Hebrew – English Bible |publisher= Mechon-Mamre |access-date=April 10, 2014}}</ref>{{bsn|date=August 2023}} It is also one of the places listed in [[Nehemiah]] where some of the people of Judah were living. There is no reference to Hebron in Nehemiah, however.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%2011%3A25&version=ESV|title=Bible Gateway passage: Nehemiah 11:25 - English Standard Version|website=Bible Gateway|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>{{bsn|date=August 2023}}

There are various explanations for the name, not mutually exclusive. According to the biblical commentator [[Rashi]], ''Kiryat Arba'' ("Town of ''Arba''") means either the town (''kirya'') of [[Arba (biblical figure)|Arba]], the giant who had three sons, or the town of the four giants: ''Anak'' (the son of Arba) and his three sons – Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai – who are described as being the sons of a "giant" in {{Bibleverse||Numbers|13:22|}}: "On the way through the Negev, they ([[Joshua]] and [[Caleb]]) came to Hebron where [they saw] Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmi, descendants of the Giant (''ha-anak'')..."<ref>{{cite web |url= http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=4&CHAPTER=13 |title= Navigating the Bible |publisher= Bible.ort |access-date= April 10, 2014 |archive-date= August 7, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110807000855/http://bible.ort.org/books/pentd2.asp?ACTION=displaypage&BOOK=4&CHAPTER=13 |url-status= dead }}</ref>{{bsn|date=August 2023}}

==History ==
[[File:Hebron redeployment 1997.jpg|thumbnail|left|Israeli settlement in Hebron]]
A secret government plan to establish the settlement began with the expropriation of Palestinian land, ostensibly for a military base.<ref name=Secret>{{cite news | newspaper = Haaretz | title = Secret 1970 Document Confirms First West Bank Settlements Built on a Lie | date = July 28, 2016 | author = Yotam Berger | url = https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-document-confirms-first-settlements-built-on-a-lie-1.5416937 }}</ref> According to the minutes of a meeting between senior officials in the office of Defense Minister [[Moshe Dayan]] in July 1970, houses would be constructed "for military purposes" before being turned over to Israeli civilians as a settlement.<ref name=Secret/> This method of settlement foundation, which was very common at the time, was intended to give the appearance of compliance with international law.<ref name=Secret/> Israeli settlers claimed that Israeli settlement around Hebron was justified in light of the [[1929 Hebron massacre]] and the continuous presence of Israelis in the area until then.<ref name=Feige>{{cite book|title=Settling in the Hearts: Jewish Fundamentalism in the Occupied Territories|year=2009|publisher=Wayne State University Press|isbn=978-0814327500|page=152|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CG_R01oa780C&pg=PA152|author=Michael Feige}}</ref> The town is a self-sufficient community, with pre-nursery through [[post-secondary]] educational institutions, medical facilities, [[shopping center]]s, a bank, and a [[post office]]. Kiryat Arba attained [[Local council (Israel)|local council]] status in 1979. While Kiryat Arba is located within the territory of the [[Har Hebron Regional Council]], it is an independent local council.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=313 |title=Beit HaShalom – the House of Peace – a new Jewish building in Hebron |date=March 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430171933/http://www.hebron.com/english/article.php?id=313 |archive-date=April 30, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152784857&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Jpost]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111022800/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1176152784857&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull |date=January 11, 2012 }}</ref>

Israeli settlers living at Kiryat Arba have been targets of multiple attacks by Palestinians. In 1980, three 20-year-old yeshiva students studying in Kiryat Arba were among the [[1980 Hebron terrorist attack|six Jews killed by terrorists]] after praying in the [[Cave of the Patriarchs]] in Hebron on Friday night.<ref name="toi">{{cite news |title=Palestinian terrorist in killing of 6 Jews elected Hebron mayor |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-terrorist-in-killing-of-6-jews-elected-hebron-mayor/ |access-date=19 August 2018 |publisher=Times of Israel |date=14 May 2017}}</ref> Between 1981 and 1986, four people from Kiryat Arba were shot and wounded in the Hebron marketplace. In 1994, a 17-year Sarit Prigral from Kiryat Arba was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting.<ref name="JVL">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/hebron.html |title=Terrorist attacks and violent incidents in Kiryat Arba |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=April 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/comprehensive-listing-of-terrorism-victims-in-israel|title=Comprehensive Listing of Terrorism Victims in Israel|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org|language=en|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref> In March 2003, Eli and Dina Horowitz were shot to death in their home and five others wounded.<ref name="mfa.gov.il">{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Palestinian+terror+since+2000/Victims+of+Palestinian+Violence+and+Terrorism+sinc.htm |title=Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism Since 2000 |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/ForeignPolicy/Terrorism/Victims/Pages/Dina%20Horowitz.aspx|title=Dina Horowitz|website=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=2017-10-24}}</ref> On November 26, 2009, a Palestinian stabbed and wounded two Israelis at a Kiryat Arba gas station. The Palestinian was then shot dead by an Israeli soldier.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/134638 |title=Kiryat Arba: Two Wounded in Terror Stabbing |publisher=Arutz Sheva |date=November 26, 2009 |first=Hillel |last=Fendel}}</ref> On August 31, 2010, four residents, including a pregnant woman, were [[August 2010 West Bank shooting attack|shot to death]] in their car by [[Hamas]] militants outside Kiryat Arba.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kieron Monks |url=http://www.newstatesman.com/middle-east/2010/11/palestinian-police-security |title=The Lawless West Bank: The Next Powder Keg? |publisher=Newstatesman.com |date=November 2, 2010 |access-date=April 10, 2014}}</ref> The [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] arrested the perpetrators, but promptly released them after Hamas accused it of treason. On October 8, 2010, Israeli troops killed two of the perpetrators and arrested six during a raid in [[Hebron]]. In October 2011, a Palestinian stoning attack near Kiryat Arba caused the car of a resident to overturn, killing him and his infant son. The man's handgun and wallet were then stolen.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4127093,00.html |title=Police conclude Kiryat Arba car crash a terror attack |first=Yair |last=Altman |date=September 25, 2011 |newspaper=YNet}}</ref> Following an investigation by [[Shin Bet]], the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] and [[Israel Police|police]], two Palestinians from [[Halhul]] were arrested for throwing the stones that caused the car to overturn, and three others were arrested for stealing the gun.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4132454,00.html |title=2 Palestinians arrested for Palmer murder |date=October 6, 2011 |first=Yair |last=Altman}}</ref> On June 30, 2016, a Palestinian from the nearby village of [[Bani Naim]] entered a house in Kiryat Arba and stabbed to death 13-year-old Hallel Yaffa Ariel, an Israeli-American girl. The attacker was shot to death, after also wounding a security guard who responded to the Ariel stabbing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israeli girl stabbed to death by Palestinian inside bedroom|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36671991|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 June 2016|date=30 June 2016}}</ref>

In October 2018, Eliyahu Libman was elected council head beating  Malachi Levinger, the son of [[Moshe Levinger]], who had served as head of council for 10 years.<ref name="JPost20181031">[https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-Binyamin-Regional-Council-head-calls-for-strategic-action-on-settlements-570819 NEW BINYAMIN REGIONAL COUNCIL HEAD CALLS FOR STRATEGIC ACTION ON SETTLEMENTS], JPost, 31 October 2018</ref>

==Landmarks==
[[File:Baruch Goldstein tomb.jpg|thumb|right|Tomb of the [[Kach (political party)|Kach]] supporter and perpetrator of the 1994 [[Cave of the Patriarchs massacre]] against Palestinian worshipers, [[Baruch Goldstein]], located at the [[Meir Kahane]] Park in Kiryat Arba ]]

*Kahane Park is named for Rabbi [[Meir Kahane]], founder of [[Kach (political party)|Kach]], a radical [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox Jewish]], [[ultranationalist]] [[List of political parties in Israel|political party in Israel]] that is banned and considered a [[terrorist organization]] in Israel. [[assassination of Meir Kahane|Meir Kahane was assassinated]] in the United States by an Arab gunman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jewish Leader Kahane Slain in New York |author=Specter, Michael |date=November 6, 1990 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref name=Indep1994>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/hebron-settlers-shed-no-tears-after-slaughter-militant-jews-are-turning-mass-killer-baruch-goldstein-1397002.html Hebron settlers shed no tears after slaughter: Militant Jews are turning mass killer Baruch Goldstein into a folk hero, writes Sarah Helm from Kiryat Arba], Sarah Helm, 28 February 1994, [[The Independent]]</ref> 
*The grave of [[Baruch Goldstein]], who committed the [[Cave of the Patriarchs massacre]], is across the street from the park.<ref name=Indep1994/><ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/man-charged-with-attacking-elderly-woman-at-jewish-terrorists-grave/ Man charged with attacking elderly woman at Jewish terrorist’s grave], 29 December 2016, [[Times of Israel]]</ref>

==Education==
The settlement has the following high schools and yeshivas:
* The Kiryat Arba Ulpana for girls.<ref>[https://ulpenot.co.il/ulpena/kiryat4/ אולפנת קרית ארבע חברון], ulpenot.co.il</ref>
* The Kiryat Arba high school Yeshiva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yatka.iscool.co.il/%D7%90%D7%95%D7%93%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%94%D7%99%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%91%D7%94/tabid/1536/language/he-IL/Default.aspx|title=ישיבה תיכונית "אור מנחם" קרית ארבע > אודות הישיבה|website=yatka.iscool.co.il|access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>
* The Nir [[Hesder]] Yeshiva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yeshivatnir.org.il/|title=ישיבת ניר קרית ארבע חברון- ישיבת הסדר גבוהה בקרית ארבע חברון תורת אבות לבנים|website=ישיבת ניר|access-date=July 31, 2020|archive-date=November 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122001417/http://yeshivatnir.org.il/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Local government ==

=== Municipal building ===
After the establishment of Kiryat Arba in 1971, the residents of the community campaigned for the creation of a local governing body for their settlement. The first local authority established in Kiryat Arba was a local committee known as the Kiryat Arba Administration ("Minhelet Kiryat Arba"), founded in 1974 by order of the IDF Commander in Judea and Samaria.

It functioned as an appointed council under the supervision of the Israeli Ministry of the Interior.

On 1 March 1981, local councils were formally established throughout [[Judea and Samaria Area|Judea and Samaria]], and the Kiryat Arba Administration became a [[Local council (Israel)|local council]].

The first municipal elections were held in 1985.

=== Heads of the local administration ===

* Rabbi [[Moshe Levinger]] (1972–1974)
* Yitzhak Armoni (1974–1975)
* Menachem Levni (1975–1976)
* Moshe Majewski (1976–1978)
* Zeev "Zambish" Hever (1978–1981)

=== Heads of the local council ===

* Yehuda Rider (1981–1982)
* Shalom Wach (1982–1990)
* Zvi Katzover (1990–2008)
* Malachi Levinger (2008–2018)
* [[Eliyahu Libman]] (2018–2024)
* Israel Bramson (2024–present)

==Notable residents==<!-- Please respect alphabetical order -->
*Sarah Avraham (b. 1993/94), Indian-born Israeli kickboxer, 2014 Women's World Thai-Boxing Champion at 57-63 kilos (125–140 pounds)
*[[Baruch Goldstein]] (1956-1994), perpetrator of the [[Cave of the Patriarchs Massacre]]
*[[Elyakim Ha'etzni]] (1926-2022), lawyer and former [[Knesset]] member
*[[Moshe Levinger]] (1935-2015), Orthodox rabbi and Religious Zionist activist
*[[Dov Lior]] (b. 1933), chief rabbi and [[rosh yeshiva]]
*[[Itamar Ben-Gvir]] (b. 1976), Knesset member and Minister of National Security<ref name="Itamar">{{cite news |last=Maltz |first=Judy |date=4 January 2016 |title=The Lawyer for Jewish Terrorists Who Started Out by Stealing Rabin's Car Emblem |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.694601 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=9 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329112614/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2016-01-04/ty-article/.premium/jewish-terrorisms-star-lawyer/0000017f-eda1-da6f-a77f-fdaff1f00000 |archive-date=29 March 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060901044340/http://www.hebron.com/english/ The Jewish Community of Hebron]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100219231048/http://www.hebron.com/english/data/images/Image/maps/hebron3.jpg Map]

{{Judea and Samaria}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Kiryat Arba| ]]
[[Category:Mixed Israeli settlements]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in the Israeli Military Governorate]]
[[Category:Israeli settlements in the West Bank]]