Ma’alot
July 14, 2025
Sigaf Colony
July 14, 2025Beit HaEmek is a kibbutz located in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories, in the Western Galilee. It was established in 1949, partially by members of the British Habonim movement. The kibbutz takes its name from the nearby depopulated Palestinian village Amqa and the biblical town of Beit HaEmek, which was believed to be located approximately 5 kilometers northeast of the kibbutz.
The kibbutz was built on land belonging to the depopulated Palestinian village of Kuwikat. In addition to its agricultural activity, Beit HaEmek is also engaged in advanced industrial and scientific ventures, particularly in biotechnology. It is home to Biological Industries, one of the world’s leading and most reliable suppliers in the life sciences industry.
In 2007, the kibbutz voted to privatize. As of 2022, the population of the kibbutz was 743 settlers.
Sources:
Due to the limited availability of Arabic sources, Hebrew-language sources were used: the Hebrew website of the settlement / Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics.
Village of Kuwikat – Palestine Remembered.