Modi'in Illit

Modi'in Illit (Hebrew: מוֹדִיעִין עִלִּית; Arabic: موديعين عيليت, lit. "Upper Modi'in") is a Haredi Jewish-Israeli settlement organized as a city council in the West Bank, situated midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Built on the land of five Palestinian villages–Ni'lin, Kharbata, Saffa, Bil'in, and Dir Qadis–Modi'in Illit was granted city status by the Israeli government in 2008. It is located six kilometres (3+1⁄2 miles) northeast of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut and is often referred to as Kiryat Sefer (lit. "Book Town"), the name of its first neighborhood, established in 1994. Modi'in Illit also encompasses the neighborhood of Achuzat Brachfeld (Brachfeld Estates). In 2024, it had a total population of 89,627, making it the largest Jewish settlement in the area. The international community has largely viewed Israeli settlements in the West Bank, referred to by Israel as Judea and Samaria, as illegal under international law. However, Israel disputes this interpretation and maintains that settlements are legal and consistent with international law, citing historical, legal, and security reasons. This position has been upheld by successive Israeli governments. Two archaeological sites lie within the settlement's area: Khirbet Badd 'Isa and Khirbet Abu ad-Danin. Both were Jewish villages of the late Second Temple period, abandoned after the Bar Kokhba revolt and resettled on a limited scale in Late Antiquity.