Kabri colony

Kabri is a kibbutz located in the northern part of occupied Palestine, in the Western Galilee, approximately 4 kilometers east of the coastal settlement of Nahariya, on the Mediterranean Sea. As of 2022, the population of the kibbutz was 1,120 settlers.

The kibbutz was established on lands that previously belonged to the Palestinian villages of al-Kabri and al-Nahr, both of which were depopulated during the 1948 Nakba. The village of al-Kabri had existed on the site from the post-Crusader period until its destruction in 1949. In 1948, a convoy passing through the village was ambushed in what became known as the al-Kabri Incident. According to Israeli historian Benny Morris, a retaliatory attack by the Haganah led to the death of some villagers and the subsequent decision by most of the population to flee. The Haganah planned and executed the destruction and burning of al-Kabri and surrounding villages in the Western Galilee to prevent the return of the original inhabitants.

In 1949, a new kibbutz was established on the site by members displaced from Kibbutz Beit HaArava and young refugees from the Youth Aliyah movement. Beit HaArava had previously been located along the Jordan River near Jericho but was evacuated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and later destroyed by Jordanian forces. Women and children from Beit HaArava were evacuated to Kibbutz Shfayim during the war. The members later split into two groups in 1949: one went on to establish Kabri, while the other joined Gesher HaZiv, another kibbutz in the Western Galilee.

Following the outbreak of Operation Iron Swords, Kabri was evacuated due to its proximity to the Lebanese border. Its two regional schools were converted into military bases.

The kibbutz is situated near four natural springs that supply water to Kabri and neighboring moshavim such as Ben Ami and Netiv HaShayara. Within its borders are two archaeological sites: Tel Kabri, where extensive archaeological excavations are ongoing, and a Byzantine-era well and mosaic floor. The kibbutz overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and lies within view of the Lebanese border.

The local economy is based on a successful banana plantation, avocado orchards, and archaeological tourism at Tel Kabri. In addition, the kibbutz operates several businesses, including Kaviran, a metal and wax casting factory; Rion, a plastics manufacturing plant; a restaurant, a regional events hall, and a tourist village.

Two schools are located on the grounds of the kibbutz:

• Ma’ayanotRegional Primary School
• Manor-KabriRegional High School

These institutions serve children and youth from Kabri and neighboring settlements. The high school is particularly known for its focus on the arts, offering specialized tracks in music, visual arts, drama, and film/video for grades 10 through 12. Due to its curriculum combining performing arts with official academic subjects, the school attracts students from across the region. Daniel Rosolio, a former Knesset member and Kabri resident, taught at both schools.

Kabri also provides childcare services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, as well as adult education and a variety of cultural activities. The dining hall of the kibbutz was designed by architect Hanan Havron.

Sources:
Due to the scarcity of Arabic-language references, Hebrew sources were used: the official Hebrew website of the settlement and the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics.
Information on the depopulated Palestinian villages of al-Kabri and al-Nahr was sourced from Palestine Remembered.