Petah Tikva Colony

Petah Tikva is a colony located in the west-central region of Palestine. It was established in 1878 as an agricultural settlement on land taken by Jews from the Arab village of Mulabbis. It was the first Palestinian village upon which a Zionist colony was established during the Ottoman period. Over time—particularly following the establishment of the Zionist state—its nature changed significantly, expanding into an industrial city and becoming part of the urban bloc known as . Today, Petah Tikva is one of the major hubs of the so-called “Israeli Silicon Valley.” The city hosts industries such as textiles, plastics, food production, rubber goods, wheel tires, and soap. It also includes large lemon orchards. As of 2004, the settler population in the city was approximately 179,400, making it one of the most populous “Israeli” cities.