Ma’ale Adumim

Ma’ale Adumim is a suburb located just three miles outside the city limits of Jerusalem, making it a quick 10-minute drive from the capital. Established on the seventh night of Chanukah in 1975 by only 23 families, the government recognized Ma’ale Adumim as the first official city in Judea and Samaria in 1991, and today it has a population of more than 40,000—a nearly 2,000-fold increase in less than 50 years.

Situated 1,500 feet above sea level, Ma’ale Adumim offers stunning views of the Judean Desert, the Jerusalem Hills, Mt. Scopus, and the Mount of Olives. Its name is derived from the reddish rock formations that line the ancient road from the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem and is referenced in the Book of Joshua (15:6-18) as a border area between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Most of the city’s residents are middle-class and traditional; approximately 20% are religious (and are served by 28 synagogues). About 15% come from the United States, another 15% are from the former Soviet Union. The city is attractive because it is clean, safe, and close to where many residents work. In 2003, a 1.8-mile road was finished that connected the town with Jerusalem, making it even easier to commute to Israel’s capital. The city has also twice won the national prize for environmental quality and features 275 acres of green space, dozens of playgrounds, and outdoor sculptures. Housing prices are also significantly lower than in Jerusalem.

The area doesn’t have much in the way of tourist attractions besides the Martyrius Monastery. During the Byzantine period, the monk Martyrius built a monastery overlooking the river beds, the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea. The city does have a swimming pool, a country club, a library, and a shopping mall, as well as one of Israel’s largest industrial zones, home to more than 100 companies.

Approximately 6,000 people live in surrounding settlements that are included in the Ma’ale Adumim settlement bloc, the largest of which is Kfar Adumim.

Under the Clinton peace plan, Ma’ale Adumim was designated to remain part of Israel—a stance that the Palestinian Authority accepted. It is now situated on the Israeli side of the security fence.

Israel has long planned to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem through the E1 corridor, a 3,250-acre area slated for housing, commercial centers, and a nature reserve. This project remains one of the most contested elements of future negotiations.

Sources: Ma’ale Adumim