Name of City/municipality: Nof Hagalil
Population: 41,734 (2019)
Area: 32.521 km2
Nof HaGalil is a city in the Northern District of Israel Founded in 1957 as Nazareth Illit, it was planned as a Jewish town overlooking the Arab city of Nazareth and the Jezreel Valley.
Name of Mayor: Ronen Plot
Contact: Tamar Lerer, lerer_t@bbm.org.il
Website: www.nof-hagalil.muni.il
Main features:
Founded in 1957 as Nazareth Illit, it was planned as a Jewish town overlooking the Arab city of Nazareth and the Jezreel Valley. Today, 29% of the city’s population is Arab. Its name was changed in 2019 to “Nof HaGalil” following a plebiscite in which 80% of voters approved the change.
Main economic activities:
The Strauss-Elite chocolate factory in the city’s industrial zone employs over 600 workers.
The city’s population has been dwindling ever since, due to its failing as a commercial and industrial center. Thus, a large portion of the younger population has left, which altered the city’s demographics.
Environmental conditions and challenges:
Nof HaGalil municipality cares for maintaining the city’s green grounds and for its forestry. Located by the city is the “Churchill Forest” (the money for which has been donated by the Jewish community of the United Kingdom in memory of Sir Winston Churchill). The forest, which lies on the downslope between Nazareth and Jezreel Valley, provides observation spots on the valley view.
In 2019, after a successful school fundraising, a scientific and ecological greenhouse was set up on a 500 m2 site in the Atzmon elementary school. The students of Atzmon will not only grow vegetables and fruits, but also invent new varieties and experiment with the scientific process involved in their development.