Abirim

Abirim
Metsad Abirim, a ruin of tower or mausoleum near Abirim
Founded	1980
Council	Ma'ale Yosef
Region	Galilee
Coordinates	33°2′22.45″N 35°17′14.67″E / 33.0395694°N 35.2874083°E / 33.0395694; 35.2874083Coordinates: 33°2′22.45″N 35°17′14.67″E / 33.0395694°N 35.2874083°E / 33.0395694; 35.2874083
Abirim

Abirim (Hebrew: אַבִּירִים‎‎, lit. Knights) is a communal settlement in northern Israel. Located in the Upper Galilee, three kilometres from Ma'alot-Tarshiha, it falls under the jurisdiction of Ma'ale Yosef Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 209.

Abirim was established in 1980 and named for the nearby ruins of Metzad Abirim (Fortress of the Knights). It is located in the middle of a natural oak forest bordering the Nahal Kziv nature reserve.^[1]

According to Walid Khalidi, Abirim was founded on the land of the Arab village of Dayr al-Qassi.^[2]

Abirim hosts an annual wine festival showcasing the wines of local vintners.^[3]Many of the residents run bed and breakfast establishments.^[4]

See also

• Israeli wine

References

1. ^ Menuhat HaAbirim
2. ^ Khalidi, Walid (1992), All That Remains, Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies, ISBN 0-88728-224-5 
3. ^ The wine festival at Mitzpe Abirim
4. ^ 5 stops in Abirim, Haaretz