Atarot industrial zone

What secrets do the crumbling walls of the Atarot Industrial Zone whisper? We stand at the edge of a place where history and industry intertwine, a place called Atarot. The Atarot Industrial Zone isn’t just a collection of factories. It’s a living testament to a tumultuous past, a phoenix risen from the ashes of a former moshav. Before the clang of machinery and the hum of businesses, this very ground nourished a community of farmers. These early settlers, arriving in 1912, toiled to transform the rocky terrain into fertile fields. They cultivated the land, establishing orchards and supplying Jerusalem with fresh produce and dairy. Among these pioneers was a young Levi Eshkol, who would later become Prime Minister of Israel. The Atarot Industrial Zone carries the echoes of their dreams. The idyllic life of the moshav was shattered during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The village, a vital defensive point during the Siege of Jerusalem, was eventually evacuated and destroyed. The land then became an extension of Kalandia Airport. The displaced residents, clinging to their agricultural roots, later established Bnei Atarot, a new community built on the foundations of a former Templer village. The story of Atarot took another turn after the Six-Day War in 1967. Recaptured by Israel, the area was incorporated into Jerusalem, and the Atarot Industrial Zone began to take shape. Today, over 150 diverse enterprises operate within this one-square-kilometer area. Food factories, garages, carpentry shops, and metal workshops buzz with activity, a stark contrast to the quiet fields of the past. The Atarot Industrial Zone holds a unique position. It is Jerusalem’s largest industrial park. Yet, its proximity to Ramallah has made it a target during times of conflict, particularly during the Second Intifada, which led to the closure of the nearby Atarot Airport. The Atarot Industrial Zone continues to evolve. A new waste transfer station, opened in 2014, further diversifies the area’s functions. As we stand here, at the edge of the Atarot Industrial Zone, we are witness to a palimpsest of history. From agricultural settlement to airport, from battlefield to industrial hub, Atarot embodies the resilience and constant change that define this land.