Keida

Keida ( קידה ), also spelled Kida, is an Israeli outpost in the West Bank named after a genus of flower native to the region. Established in 2003 without official planning or permission, it is located near Shilo on the Allon Road, approximately five minutes east of the town. Keida is part of a group of six outposts, including Shvut Rachel, Giv'at Har'el, Esh Kodesh, Ahiya, and Adei Ad, built on land seized from Palestinian villages such as Jalud, Qaryut, Turmus Ayya, and al-Mughayir. By 2009, the outpost consisted of 35 portable homes. The outpost is under the jurisdiction of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council and has faced criticism for appropriating about 70% of Jalud's agricultural land. Access to Keida is challenging due to its location near several checkpoints, with no public transportation available—only cars or hitchhiking are possible. Journalists were initially barred from entering until 2009, and while many structures in the outpost are marked for demolition, these orders have not been enforced. Despite being listed by Airbnb as a "neighbourhood" by 2018, Keida's settlers live under constant threat of demolition. One notable incident occurred on February 15, 2011, when three settlers from Keida shot Wael Toubasy (16) in the stomach while he was walking home with his brother. Additionally, Mahmoud Toubasy reported being targeted by settlers in 2001. The outpost currently houses approximately 80 settler families. Notably, Yair Hirsch, a resident of Keida who built his home in violation of Israeli building laws, was appointed as the director ...