Mefalsim | |
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Coordinates: 31°30′6.83″N 34°33′51.83″E / 31.5018972°N 34.5643972°ECoordinates: 31°30′6.83″N 34°33′51.83″E / 31.5018972°N 34.5643972°E | |
District | Southern |
Council | Sha'ar HaNegev |
Affiliation | Kibbutz Movement |
Founded | 1949 |
Founded by | Latin American Jews |
Population (2015) | 971 |
Website | www.mefalsim.co.il |
Mefalsim (Hebrew: מְפַלְּסִים, lit. Road pavers) is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located near the Gaza Strip and covering 11,000 dunams, it fall under the jurisdiction of Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council. In 2015 it had a population of 971.
The village was established in 1949 by members of the MAMLT youth movement, most of whom were immigrants from Argentina and Uruguay. It was named for the immigrants from Latin America who paved the way for others to make aliyah.
After the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005, the kibbutz absorbed some of the evicted families. Since 2001, the kibbutz has been hit by dozens of rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, with a few buildings destroyed, including the kindergarten in 2012.