“Etymology: Gate of Benjamin” so begins the story of Sha’ar Binyamin. Today we stand at Sha’ar Binyamin. It is an Israeli light industrial park in the West Bank. It was built in 1998.
Sha’ar Binyamin sits on land taken from the Palestinian villages of Jaba and Mukhmas. It is located in the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. This is about 2km north of Geva Binyamin. It is a short 5-minute drive from Pisgat Ze’ev in Jerusalem. The park itself covers 606 dunams which equals about 150 acres.
The international community views Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal. But, the Israeli government disagrees.
The Regional Council’s Industrial Zones Authority established Sha’ar Binyamin. This authority promotes development in the area. The Israeli Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry invested in the region. They put in about 20 million Israeli new shekels. In 2002, the park gained “National Priority Area A” status for 13 years. This allowed tax benefits. It aimed to create jobs for Jewish and Arab residents. Buses run along Route 60 providing public transportation.
At Sha’ar Binyamin, Israelis and Palestinians work together. They are side by side in factories and stores. One popular spot here is the Rami Levy supermarket.
You can find many different businesses in Sha’ar Binyamin. These include bakeries. One bakery even experiments with showbread like that used in the Temple in Jerusalem. There are furniture and clothing stores. You will also find hardware and housewares stores. Auto leasing and repair shops are available. A computer store, winery, optician, and dental clinic are here too. The Jewish Agency’s Settlement Division has offices here. There is an events hall. A section is also designated for high-tech businesses.
Sha’ar Binyamin faces strict rules on pollution. It sits above the Wadi Qelt Nature Reserve drainage basin. A water purification facility processes the park’s wastewater. Polluting heavy industry is prohibited here.
However, tragedy struck here. In the afternoon, two 14-year-old Palestinians carried out a stabbing attack. This occurred in the Sha’ar Binyamin Industrial Zone. Sgt. Tuvia Yanai Weissman, 21, was killed. A 36-year-old Israeli civilian was wounded. The young attackers entered a Rami Levi supermarket. Shoppers fought back using shopping carts. A civilian shot the terrorists, wounding them. One later died. Weissman, a soldier, was off duty and in civilian clothes. The attackers were from Beitunia near Ramallah. A civilian recounted hearing screams and then shooting one of the terrorists.