Tzova

Lore & Background

The area around Tzova has a long history. Middle Bronze Age cairn-tombs were excavated near the ruined Arab village of Suba, and excavations at Tel Tzova revealed occupation layers from the Iron Age (First Temple period) and later Roman–Byzantine phases. The Septuagint version of Joshua 15:59 lists a place called Σωβης (Sōbes), cautiously identified with Tzova, suggesting ancient roots. In the 1140s–1160s, a Crusader fortress, Belmont, was built on Tel Tzova to guard the route to Jerusalem; it was conquered by Saladin in 1191.

During the 1947–1949 Palestine war, the Palestinian village of Suba, built on the ruins of Belmont Castle, was a strategic location overlooking the road to Jerusalem. Irregular forces and militiamen stationed there attacked Jewish traffic on the main highway. The village was conquered by the Palmach on the night of July 12–13 as part of Operation Danny. Most inhabitants fled before the fighting, and the brigades were ordered to prevent their return. In October 1948, a group of Palmach veterans established kibbutz Misgav Palmach 1 km south of Suba, later renamed Palmach Tzova.

Reader's Guide

Tzova's significance lies in its layered history, bridging ancient biblical references, Crusader military architecture, and modern Israeli settlement. The kibbutz's name echoes the nearby depopulated Palestinian village of Suba, and its establishment reflects the demographic and political changes of the 1948 war. Economically, Tzova is notable for its Oran Safety Glass factory, which produces security glass and has developed a bullet-resistant windshield with an embedded touch screen. The kibbutz also hosts a hotel, amusement park, winery, and a residential Hebrew ulpan. Archaeologically, the discovery of the Cave of Saint John the Baptist in 1999 added a Christian holy site to the area, with Byzantine-era drawings and a baptismal pool. Culturally, artists Joseph Zaritsky and Larry Abramson have engaged with the landscape and its contested history, with Abramson's 1995 exhibition 'tsooba' directly addressing the erased Palestinian ruins. Tzova thus serves as a microcosm of Israeli historical, economic, and cultural dynamics.

Did You Know?

• The kibbutz was originally named Misgav Palmach when established in October 1948 by Palmach veterans.
• The Crusader fortress Belmont, built on Tel Tzova in the 1140s–1160s, was conquered by Saladin in 1191.
• In 2000, a cave believed to be the Cave of Saint John the Baptist was discovered in the kibbutz orchards.