Kokhav Yair

Kokhav Ya'ir (Hebrew ???? ???? unofficially also spelled Kochav Yair) is a local municipality in the central distric of Israel. The municipality merged with the neighboring town of Zur Yigal in November 2003. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), November 2003 Kokhav Ya'ir and Zur Yigal together had a total population of 11,000, predominantly Jewish.

History

Kokhav Ya'ir was established in 1981 by 15 families living in temporary structures. Two years later work began on the infrastructure for a permanent settlement. In 1986 phase one of the permanent settlement began with 550 families.

Related Topics:
1981 - 1986

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zur Yigal's ground breaking began 1991 and the first families began to enter their homes in summer of 1994.

Related Topics:
1991 - 1994

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kokhav Ya'ir (literally "Yair's star") was named for Abraham Stern, alias Yair, the founder and leader of the Zionist underground terrorist organization later known as Lehi and also known as the "Stern Gang".

Related Topics:
Abraham Stern - Lehi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Zur Yigal (literally "Yigal's rock) was named for the former member of Knesset, Yigal Cohen.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some famous residents (past and present) include

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and former Prime Minster Ehud Barak.
• Former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and current Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.
• Member of Knesset Michael Eitan.
• Member of Knesset Dani Yatom.
• Member of Knesset Gideon Ezra.
• Member of Knesset Michael Ratzon.
• Former Israeli Ambassador to Belgium and Switzerland Yitzhak Mayer