Jerusalem corridor: Difference between revisions
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[[File:NIlan010.jpg|thumb|[[Neve Ilan]] television studios in the Jerusalem corridor]] |
[[File:NIlan010.jpg|thumb|[[Neve Ilan]] television studios in the Jerusalem corridor]] |
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The '''Jerusalem corridor''' ({{lang-he|פרוזדור ירושלים}}, ''Prozdor Yerushalayim'') is a geographical district between [[Jerusalem]] and the [[Shephelah]] in [[Israel]]. |
The '''Jerusalem corridor''' ({{lang-he|פרוזדור ירושלים}}, ''Prozdor Yerushalayim'') is a geographical district of hundreds of thousands of dunams between [[Jerusalem]] and the [[Shephelah]] in [[Israel]]. Its northern border is the old road to Jerusalem; its southern border, the Elah Valley; and its western border, Shaar HaGai and the road to Beit Shemesh. The largest towns in the Jerusalem corridor are [[Beit Shemesh]], [[Mevasseret Zion]], [[Abu Ghosh]], [[Tzur Hadassah]] (4,700), and [[Kiryat Ye'arim]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Burma Road convoy.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Burma Road]] convoy]] |
[[File:Burma Road convoy.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Burma Road]] convoy]] |
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In 1949, when the area came under Israeli control, the region was mountainous, rocky and bare of trees and forests. Arab villagers who had practiced terraced farming in the narrow valleys and wadis fled during the war. The Jerusalem corridor was the only route for bringing supplies to [[Siege of Jerusalem (1948)|besieged Jerusalem]]. In the [[Battle of Latrun]], Jewish forces attempted to capture [[Latrun]], where Jordanian forces were stationed. [[Burma Road (Israel)|Burma Road]] was built as an alternative.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/geo/corridor.html Jerusalem corridor history]</ref> |
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In the first decade of the State of Israel, a total of 35 agricultural settlements were established in the Jerusalem corridor by new immigrants from Yemen, Kurdistan, North Africa, Romania and Hungary. The [[JNF]] employed many of newcomers in afforestation and land reclamation. Since then it has become one of the largest afforested regions in the country.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/geo/corridor.html Jerusalem corridor history]</ref> |
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At the end of the war, [[Jew]]ish forces held control of most of the corridor (including the Burma Road), and these areas, as well as some Jordanian-controlled areas, became part of the State of Israel following the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]].{{Dubious|date=February 2010}}{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} |
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Today, in addition to the [[Highway 1 (Israel)|Jerusalem – Tel Aviv highway]] (Highway 1), a number of additional routes lead to Jerusalem; route 443 covers the northern part of the corridor. Route 395 leads from [[Ein Kerem]] to the coast, via [[Ramat Raziel]] and [[Bet Shemesh]], and continues south. Route 386 leads to the Ella Valley, via [[Bar Giora]] and [[Tzur Hadassa]]. A railway line is active in the corridor, next to the [[Sorek Stream]], which is part of the historical [[Jaffa–Jerusalem railway]]. |
Today, in addition to the [[Highway 1 (Israel)|Jerusalem – Tel Aviv highway]] (Highway 1), a number of additional routes lead to Jerusalem; route 443 covers the northern part of the corridor. Route 395 leads from [[Ein Kerem]] to the coast, via [[Ramat Raziel]] and [[Bet Shemesh]], and continues south. Route 386 leads to the Ella Valley, via [[Bar Giora]] and [[Tzur Hadassa]]. A railway line is active in the corridor, next to the [[Sorek Stream]], which is part of the historical [[Jaffa–Jerusalem railway]]. |
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Revision as of 06:57, 8 April 2013
The Jerusalem corridor (Hebrew: פרוזדור ירושלים, Prozdor Yerushalayim) is a geographical district of hundreds of thousands of dunams between Jerusalem and the Shephelah in Israel. Its northern border is the old road to Jerusalem; its southern border, the Elah Valley; and its western border, Shaar HaGai and the road to Beit Shemesh. The largest towns in the Jerusalem corridor are Beit Shemesh, Mevasseret Zion, Abu Ghosh, Tzur Hadassah (4,700), and Kiryat Ye'arim.
History
In 1949, when the area came under Israeli control, the region was mountainous, rocky and bare of trees and forests. Arab villagers who had practiced terraced farming in the narrow valleys and wadis fled during the war. The Jerusalem corridor was the only route for bringing supplies to besieged Jerusalem. In the Battle of Latrun, Jewish forces attempted to capture Latrun, where Jordanian forces were stationed. Burma Road was built as an alternative.[1]
In the first decade of the State of Israel, a total of 35 agricultural settlements were established in the Jerusalem corridor by new immigrants from Yemen, Kurdistan, North Africa, Romania and Hungary. The JNF employed many of newcomers in afforestation and land reclamation. Since then it has become one of the largest afforested regions in the country.[2]
Today, in addition to the Jerusalem – Tel Aviv highway (Highway 1), a number of additional routes lead to Jerusalem; route 443 covers the northern part of the corridor. Route 395 leads from Ein Kerem to the coast, via Ramat Raziel and Bet Shemesh, and continues south. Route 386 leads to the Ella Valley, via Bar Giora and Tzur Hadassa. A railway line is active in the corridor, next to the Sorek Stream, which is part of the historical Jaffa–Jerusalem railway.