Kfar Vradim

Kfar Vradim is a settlement located in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories, situated south of Ma’alot-Tarshiha and approximately 14 kilometers from the Lebanese border. It lies near the towns of Ma’alot-Tarshiha, Karmiel, and Nahariya.

Kfar Vradim was established in 1984 on the lands of the depopulated Palestinian village of al-Kabri (Acre District), which was depopulated during the 1948 Nakba. The settlement was founded by Stef Wertheimer with the aim of creating an industrial town in a rural area. The initial families were mostly employees of ISCAR Metalworking, a company owned by Wertheimer that produces high-performance metal blades and cutting tools.

As of 2018, there were controversial plans to build an additional 2,200 housing units, which would effectively double the number of households in the settlement.

Kfar Vradim sits at an elevation ranging between 550 and 620 meters (1,800–2,050 feet) above sea level, offering a mild and relatively temperate climate. Summer temperatures can reach up to 38°C (100°F), while in January and February, temperatures can drop to around -2°C (28°F). Average temperatures range from 10–15°C (50–59°F) in winter to 28–32°C (82–90°F) in summer. Rainfall occurs mainly between October and March, consisting mostly of rain showers with rare occurrences of snow.

In 2018, the settlement’s population was approximately 5,800 settlers, and by 2022, it had slightly decreased to 5,562 settlers.

Sources:
Due to the scarcity of Arabic-language sources, Hebrew-language sources were used: the settlement’s Hebrew website / Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics.
Information on the village of al-Kabri from Palestine Remembered.