Afikim

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Afikim, rarely Afiqim, (Hebrew אֲפִיקִים ) is a kibbutz in northern Israel. It is located three kilometers from the Sea of ​​Galilee and has about 1,500 inhabitants.

The kibbutz is one of the first kibbutzim of the Kibbutz Movement, and was built mainly by Russian immigrants. The kibbutz is now one of the three largest in the country.

Etymology

The name derives from the word Afikim riverbed and is a reference to the Jordan and its tributary, the Yarmuk.

History

Russian Jews who were in the Golan Heights as part of the Hashomer Hatzair kibbutz movement established in 1932 the Kibbutz Afikim. Because of their location in one of the most fertile parts of Israel, the kibbutz attracted more and more members and quickly counted among the largest kibbutzim in the country.

During the Palestine war in 1948, the kibbutz was often used as a base a base against Iraqi and Syrian shelling. In addition, the kibbutz was great representative of Palmachaktivität. Shortly thereafter, the kibbutz was a training camp for Nahal, the struggling pioneer youth. The kibbutz soon became supporters of the Zionist Labor Party " Mifleget Poale Eretz Israel " with nicknames Mapai.

1977 housed the kibbutz 66 refugees from the Vietnam War. The entire corporate structure of the kibbutz was fully privatized in 2004.

Economy

The agriculture of the kibbutz includes the cultivation of bananas, dates, citrus fruits and some other tropical fruits. Besides the cultivation of fruits Afikim has 400 dairy cows.

The electronics company SAE is responsible for the production of so-called Kalno'im ( electric vehicles ) and is in this area one of the largest suppliers in the world market.

In 1980, the kibbutz was hit by an economic crisis and had to be privatized to a large extent at the time. Furthermore, the dairy company Afimilk, which is responsible for the milk supply of all Israel, based in Afikim.

Afimilk is also a monopolist in the erection of milking or Melkställen and also exports them to other countries such as Belarus.

2010 Afimilk announced a major contract with Vietnam, concerning the production of 500,000 liters of milk per day, which corresponds to 40 % of the current demand of Vietnam.

Notable people

  • Place in Israel
  • Kibbutz
  • North District (Israel )
  • Founded in 1932
Jordan River Yarmouk River
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