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Ometz, Israel

Published

01In brief

Ometz (Hebrew: אומץ; officially transliterated by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics as “Omez”) is a moshav in the Emek Hefer Regional Council, located in Israel’s Central District and Sharon subdistrict. Established in 1949, the community had 860 residents in 2022; 839 were recorded as Jewish. Musician Mosh Ben Ari has lived in the moshav.

02Overview

Ometz is registered under locality code 680 and classified as a moshav or collective village.[1][3] It is under the jurisdiction of the Emek Hefer Regional Council, within the Central District and Sharon subdistrict.[1] The CBS locality files render its English name as “Omez,” while this article uses the spelling “Ometz.”[1][3]

03History

Ometz was established in 1949, in the period immediately following Israel’s founding.[1][3] The historical CBS locality file shows no population entry for 1948, while recording 271 residents in 1961, the earliest figure cited in that series.[3]

04Demographics

The recorded population declined from 271 in 1961 to 194 in 1972, before rising to 229 in 1983 and 327 in 1995.[3] By 2022, Ometz had 860 residents.[1] Of these, 859 were listed as “Jews and others,” including 839 Jews, and one resident was listed as Arab.[1]

05Economy and Culture

A 2015 report described a small-scale cheese dairy and mosaic studio at Bereshit 18 in Ometz.[4] Its cheeses were made by hand, including varieties produced from cow’s milk from the farm and goat’s milk purchased from another farm.[4]

Musician Mosh Ben Ari has lived in Ometz. In 2018, he recalled that on arriving in the moshav he went to the grocery store and asked whether he could buy on credit. He later explained, “I just wanted to know that I belonged.”[2]

06Notable Sites

Tel Kakun National Park lies between Ometz and Gan Yoshiya, another moshav in Emek Hefer.[5] A 2024 report identified the park and nearby community facilities as focal points in residents’ concerns about hunting, including allegations that shooting occurred too close to the park and a special-education school.[5]

07Hunting Controversy

A 2024 report described tensions over hunting around Ometz and Gan Yoshiya.[5] Israel’s official hunting season runs from September 1 through January 31; figures attributed to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority stated that 86,077 animals were shot nationwide during the 2021 season.[5]

Residents alleged that temporary permits in the area conflicted with a legally required 500-meter distance restriction, while the report also stated that hunting there was conducted in accordance with the law.[5] The Emek Hefer Regional Council said it had submitted a bylaw to restrict hunting, and police joined a recommendation to prohibit hunting around Tel Kakun and elsewhere in the valley because of security concerns.[5]

Sources

  1. 1Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, accessed on September 26, 2026.
  2. 2Ynet, Singing here in the Land of Israel, accessed on September 26, 2026.
  3. 3Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, accessed on September 26, 2026.
  4. 4Ynet, The tasty secrets of Emek Hefer, accessed on September 26, 2026.
  5. 5Mako, The sounds of gunfire cause anxiety: residents of Emek Hefer fight legal hunting, accessed on September 26, 2026.

IsraelPedia Question & Answers

  • What is Ometz, Israel?

    Ometz is a moshav, or collective village, located in the Emek Hefer Regional Council in Israel's Central District and Sharon subdistrict. Established in 1949, shortly after Israel's founding, it had 860 residents as of 2022, of whom 839 were recorded as Jewish.

  • How has the population of Ometz changed over the years?

    The earliest recorded population figure for Ometz is 271 residents in 1961, which declined to 194 by 1972. Numbers then rose to 229 in 1983 and 327 in 1995, reaching 860 by 2022.

  • What notable cultural or economic activities exist in Ometz?

    A 2015 report described a small-scale cheese dairy and mosaic studio operating at Bereshit 18 in Ometz. The dairy produced handmade cheeses using cow's milk from the farm itself and goat's milk purchased from another farm.

  • What is musician Mosh Ben Ari's connection to Ometz?

    Musician Mosh Ben Ari has lived in Ometz. In 2018, he recalled that upon arriving in the moshav he went to the grocery store and asked whether he could buy on credit, later explaining, "I just wanted to know that I belonged."

  • What is Tel Kakun National Park and where is it located?

    Tel Kakun National Park lies between Ometz and Gan Yoshiya, another moshav in the Emek Hefer region. A 2024 report identified the park and nearby community facilities as focal points in residents' concerns about hunting in the area.

  • What controversy over hunting has affected Ometz?

    A 2024 report described tensions over hunting around Ometz and Gan Yoshiya, with residents alleging that temporary hunting permits in the area conflicted with a legally required 500-meter distance restriction. The Emek Hefer Regional Council responded by submitting a bylaw to restrict hunting, and police joined a recommendation to prohibit hunting around Tel Kakun and elsewhere in the valley due to security concerns.