Etzion

Etzion is a geographic and political region in the West Bank best known for the Gush Etzion bloc of Israeli settlements. Located to the south of Jerusalem, the bloc is administered by the Gush Etzion Regional Council and includes several communities that form a cluster of towns and villages.

Historically, the area was settled in the early 20th century by Jewish communities, including kibbutzim and moshavim. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the original settlements in the Etzion bloc were captured by Jordan and some communities were destroyed, including Kfar Etzion. After the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel captured the West Bank, and the bloc was re-established and expanded with new settlements and communities, while the memory of the earlier establishments remained a point of historical significance for residents.

Demographically, the Gush Etzion bloc comprises a mixture of religious and secular communities. It supports educational institutions, religious life, and local commerce, with families and professionals engaged in a range of sectors from agriculture to services.

Geopolitically, the status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank is a subject of international dispute and ongoing peace process discussions. Israel regards the area as part of its developed communities, while many in the international community consider the West Bank to be occupied territory. The bloc remains a focal point in debates over security, settlement policy, and final-status negotiations, while continuing to function as a regional community with local services and governance.