Kiryat Shmona
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| Kiryat Shmona | |
| Hebrew | קִרְיַת שְׁמוֹנָה |
| Name Meaning | City of Eight |
| Founded in | 1950 |
| Government | City (from 1974) |
| Also Spelled | Qiryat Shemona (officially) |
| District | North |
| Population | 22,000 (2005) |
| Jurisdiction | 9,960 dunams (10 km²) |
Kiryat Shmona (Hebrew: קִרְיַת שְׁמוֹנָה) is a city in the North District of Israel. It is located on the western slopes of the Hula Valley on the Lebanese border. The name means "City of Eight", and it was named for the eight people, including Joseph Trumpeldor, who died in 1920 defending Tel Hai. About one-third of Kiryat Shmona’s residents are younger than 19, and the majority of its inhabitants are Jews, particularly of Moroccan descent.
According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2004 the city had a total population of 22,000.
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[edit] Attacks against the city's civilians
Kiryat Shmona has been the scene of several attacks from nonstate Arab terrorists operating from across the Lebanese border. On April 11, 1974, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, sent three members across the border from Lebanon to Kiryat Shmona. They killed eighteen residents of an apartment building, including many children, before being killed in an exchange of fire at the complex (see Kiryat Shmona massacre). [1] [2]. The city continued to be the target of attacks after this, including Katyusha rocket attacks by the PLO in July 1981 [3], a Katyusha rocket attack by the PLO in March 1986 (killing a teacher and injuring four students and one adult), [4][5] [6], and further Katyusha rocket attacks by Hezbollah during 1996's Operation Grapes of Wrath [7]. During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, the city often received media attention because of its being the frequent target of multiple Hezbollah Katyusha rocket attacks. On July 13, 2006, Kiryat Shmona closed its courts due to the ongoing danger of rocket attacks. The next day, three Hezbollah rockets landed in the town. On July 17, Hezbollah launched more Katyusha rockets that hit Kiryat Shmona and neighboring towns. The night of July 17, as a barrage of Hezbollah rockets were launched into northern Israeli communities, a Katyusha hit a house near Kiryat Shmona. Approximately half of the city’s residents had left the area, and the other half who remained stayed in bomb shelters.
[edit] Demographics
According to CBS, in 2001 the ethnic makeup of the city was 97.9% Jewish and other non-Arabs, without significant Arab population. In 2001 there were 121 immigrant settlers. See Population groups in Israel.
The Jewish population is largely of North African and Middle Eastern ancestry. Many are industrial workers employed in local small industry and in neighboring kibbutzim.
Kiryat Shmona's economy is based on both light industry, involving consumer-oriented products such as communications, information technology, and electronics. Kiryat Shmona's industry also involves agriculture.
According to CBS, in 2001 there were 10,800 males and 10,700 females. The population of the city was spread out with 33.5% 19 years of age or younger, 19.8% between 20 and 29, 19.3% between 30 and 44, 15.3% from 45 to 59, 3.5% from 60 to 64, and 8.5% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was 1.8%.
[edit] Income
According to CBS, as of 2000, in the city there were 8,303 salaried workers and 467 are self-employed. The mean monthly wage in 2000 for a salaried worker in the city is 4,306 shekels, a real change of 4.6% over the course of 2000. Salaried males have a mean monthly wage of 5,443 shekels (a real change of 7.1%) versus 3,065 shekels for females (a real change of -2.2%). The mean income for the self-employed is 6,769. There are 564 people who receive unemployment benefits and 1,655 people who receive an income guarantee.
[edit] Education
According to CBS, there are 12 schools and 4,339 students in the city. They are spread out as 9 elementary schools and 2,355 elementary school students, and 6 high schools and 1,984 high school students. 49.3% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.
[edit] Trivia
- Kiryat Shmona has a cable car link with kibbutz Manara above in the naftali mountain range.
- Kiryat Shmona has an activity center and toboggan run located in the south of the town.
[edit] Twin cities
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| Cities | Afula | Acre (Akko) | Bet She'an | Karmiel | Kiryat Shmona | Ma'alot-Tarshiha | Migdal HaEmek | Nahariya | Nazareth | Nazareth Illit | Safed | Sakhnin | Shagor | Shefa-'Amr (Shfar'am) | Tamra | Tiberias |  |
| Local councils | Abu Sinan | Ajar | Arrabe | Basmat Tiv'on | Beit Jann | Bir al-Maksur | Bu'eine Nujeidat | Buq'ata | Deir Hanna | Dvorya | Eilabun | Ein Knaya | Ein Mahal | Fassuta | Ghajar | Hurfeish | Hazor HaGelilit | I'billin | Iksal | Ilut | Jadida Makar | Julis | Ka'abiyye-Tabbash-Hajajre | Kabul | Kafar Kanna | Kaokab Abu al-Hija | Katzrin | Kfar Kama | Kfar Manga | Kfar Tavor | Kfar Vradim | Kfar Yasif | Kineret | Kisra-Sumei | Maghar | Ma'ilya | Majdal Shams | Mas'ada | Mashhad | Mazra'a | Metula | Mevo Hama | Migdal | Nahf | Peki'in | Ra'ama | Reineh | Ramat Yeshi | Rosh Pinna | Sajur | Sha'ab | Shelomi | Shibli-Umm al-Janam | Tuba-Zangariyye | Tur'an | Yafi'a | Yanuh-Jat | Yavne'el | Yesod HaMa'ala | Yirka | Zarzir | |
| Regional councils | Al-Batuf | Bet Shean Valley | Bustan al-Marj | Northern Jordan Valley (Emek Hayarden) | Gilboa | Golan | Jezreel Valley | Lower Galilee | Upper Galilee | Ma'ale Yosef | Mateh Asher | Megiddo | Merom HaGalil | Mevo'ot HaHermon | Misgav | |
