Maskiot
  • מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת‎ (Hebrew)
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • StandardMaskiyot
Maskiot is located in the Northern West Bank
Maskiot
Maskiot
Coordinates: 32°19′3″N 35°30′8″E / 32.31750°N 35.50222°E / 32.31750; 35.50222
CountryPalestine
DistrictJudea and Samaria Area
CouncilBik'at HaYarden
RegionWest Bank
Founded1986
Founded byNahal
Population
 (2024)[1]
397

Maskiot (Hebrew: מַשְׂכִּיּוֹת, lit. Artful Bowls) is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank.[2] Located in the northern Jordan Valley, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council.[2] In 2024, it had a population of 397.

The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.[3]

History

Maskiot was established as a Nahal settlement in 1986 and was takes its name from a verse in the Bible (Proverbs 25:11): "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."[4][5]

Houses in Maskiot
Houses in Maskiot

In 2006, a plan to expand Maskiot was put on hold following international backlash.[6] In July 2008, a plan to expand Maskiot by building 20 new houses was made public.[7][8] According to Israeli Radio, the expansion was part of a deal between settlers in Israeli Outposts established without the permission of the Israeli Government and the Israeli Defense Ministry.[8] The new houses were planned to accommodate Gush Katif evacuees as part of the Israeli disengagement from Gaza.[9] UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply concerned" over the new Maskiot plan, whereas the British government said it was "dismayed". A spokesman for US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the settlement expansion was "not helpful", and "inconsistent with Israel's commitment to the roadmap".[10]

References

  1. ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b משכיות Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council
  3. ^ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  4. ^ Bitan, Hanna: 1948-1998: Fifty Years of 'Hityashvut': Atlas of Names of Settlements in Israel, Jerusalem 1999, Carta, p.44, ISBN 965-220-423-4 (Hebrew)
  5. ^ "Proverbs_25:11 - Bible Gateway". www.biblegateway.com. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  6. ^ McCarthy, Rory (2008-07-24). "Palestinian anger at claims new West Bank settlement 'to get go-ahead'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  7. ^ "Israel 'set to build' settlement". Al Jazeera. 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  8. ^ a b "W Bank homes 'close to approval'". 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  9. ^ Weiss, Efrat (September 6, 2009). "New Settlement Being Built in Jordan Valley". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2009-09-07.
  10. ^ "Land battle in the Jordan Valley". BBC News. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2026-04-29.