Erez

Erez (אֶרֶז, lit. 'cedar') is a kibbutz in southwestern Israel. Located just 1 km north of the Gaza Strip, it is the namesake of the nearby Erez Crossing.

The kibbutz was founded in 1949 and moved to its current location in 1950. In 2019, it had a population of 558.

Located in the northwestern Negev around 18 km south of the coastal city of Ashkelon, it falls under the jurisdiction of the Shaʽar HaNegev Regional Council.

1948 Arab-Israeli war
Before the founding of the kibbutz the Palestinian village of Dimrah (Arabic: دمرة) existed on the same land. During the first Arab-Israeli war in 1948 the approximately 520 inhabitants were forcefully driven out by Israeli forces as part of the Nakba. The Israeli government has repeatedly forbidden Palestinians from returning to their lands which were stolen from them during the war, rather, they take the stance that the Palestinians do not have a right to return unless this is established in a future peace agreement between Israel and Palestine.

Post-war
Erez is named after the first group that settled the kibbutz, who were members of the Noar HaOved from Petah Tikva. It was founded in 1949.

Archaeological discoveries from Erez include a statue of a griffin with a Greek dedication by a priest, dating to 210/211 AD. Additionally, fragments of Greek inscriptions, one potentially Latin, have been found here.

On 7 October 2023, the kibbutz was attacked in the opening stage of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war. The kibbutz security team repulsed the attack in an hours-long battle, losing one of its members.

Economy
The kibbutz has three main industries: agriculture (arable and fruit farming as well as animal husbandry), manufacturing (Erez Thermoplastics Products manufactures plastic-covered materials), and research and development.

Notable people

 * Keren Neubach