David Pliner

El’ad at a Glance City: El’ad • Country: Israel • District: Central District • Population: 49766 • Area: 2.756 km² • Nearest major city: Tel Aviv • Distance: 25 km • Main transport connection: Route 444 with regional bus services; nearest rail access via Rosh HaAyin–North (Israel Railways) • Known for: Planned Haredi/religious municipality with rapid population growth and larger-than-average household sizes • Historic origins: The modern town was founded in 1998; the site lies within the historic Lod (Lydda) sub-district and was later the location of the Arab village al‑Muzayriʿa in the 18th–19th centuries; the name El’ad is biblical...

Kiryat Ekron at a Glance City: Kiryat Ekron • Country: Israel • District: Central District • Population: 11,283 (2024) • Area: about 2.3 km² • Nearest major city: Rehovot (nearby regional centre) • Distance: about 4 km • Main transport connection: Road: Route 411, Bilu Junction and Highway 40; served by regional buses; nearest railway access via Rehovot station • Known for: Bilu Centre retail area, Bilu Junction, proximity to the archaeological site known as Tel Miqne (Ekron) • Historic origins: Named for the biblical city of Ekron; the nearby Tel Miqne (Ekron) site contains important ancient remains that have...

Lod at a Glance City: Lod • Country: Israel • District: Central District • Population: 94189 • Area: 12.226 km² • Nearest major city: Tel Aviv-Yafo • Distance: approximately 15 km • Main transport connection: Lod railway junction and proximity to Ben Gurion Airport, plus major roads (Highway 1 and Route 44) • Known for: Very long archaeological history (including the Lod mosaics), the Church of Saint George, a mixed Jewish–Arab community, and its role as a central rail/air/road transport hub • Historic origins: Initial settlement c. 5600–5250 BCE; Canaanite/Israelite town attested c. 1465 BCE; important in Hellenistic, Roman (renamed...

Mattan at a Glance City: Mattan • Country: Israel • District: Central • Population: 3068 • Area: 0.57 • Nearest major city: Kfar Saba • Distance: 6.3 • Main transport connection: Local roads to Highway/Route 531 and access to Israel Railways at Kfar Saba–Nordau station • Known for: A community established in the 1990s; low-density suburban character in the eastern Sharon and a high socioeconomic ranking within its regional council • Historic origins: No known ancient settlement at the exact site of modern Mattan; lies within the broader historic Sharon/Binyamin region and is near traditional sites in the wider area...

Modi’in at a Glance City: Modi’in • Country: Israel • District: Central District • Population: 97600 • Area: 48.35 • Nearest major city: Jerusalem • Distance: 30 • Main transport connection: Highway 431 and Route 443 together with Israel Railways services to Modi’in-Center and Pa’atei Modi’in • Known for: A modern planned, family-oriented city near the region associated with ancient Modi’in; municipal education, parks and a rail link to the Tel Aviv area • Historic origins: Named after the ancient settlement associated in tradition with the Hasmonean (Maccabean) family. Archaeological remains in the general area span Iron Age to Byzantine...

Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut at a Glance City: Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut • Country: Israel • District: Central District • Population: 100052 • Area: 50.176 km² • Nearest major city: Jerusalem • Distance: 30 • Main transport connection: Highway 431 / Road 443 and Israel Railways via Modi’in Central station • Known for: Planned modern city near the Hasmonean (Maccabees) heritage site; high quality of life, large green/linear parks, and a strong municipal education system • Historic origins: The modern city lies near the sites of ancient Modi’in, associated with the Hasmonean family and revolt. Archaeological remains in the municipal area include Hellenistic/Hasmonean layers, Roman‑period finds...

Pardesiya at a Glance City: Pardesiya • Country: Israel • District: Central • Population: 7421 • Area: 1.5 • Nearest major city: Netanya • Distance: 6 • Main transport connection: Highway 4 and regional roads; rail access via nearby Netanya station • Known for: A small Sharon-plain town founded in the late 1930s by Yemenite immigrants; name refers to the orchards (pardesim) that characterised the area and its proximity to Netanya • Historic origins: Part of the Sharon plain historically within the Forest of Sharon, an open woodland dominated by Mount Tabor oak used for pasture and intermittent cultivation prior...

Petah Tikva at a Glance City: Petah Tikva • Country: Israel • District: Central District • Population: 270403 • Area: 35.868 km² • Nearest major city: Tel Aviv • Distance: Approximately 10.6 km • Main transport connection: Highway 4 (Geha) plus suburban rail and a Red Line light‑rail branch via Kiryat Aryeh and Segula • Known for: Known as ‘Em HaMoshavot’ (Mother of the Moshavot); large industrial zones (Kiryat Aryeh, Segula, Kiryat Matalon); Rabin/Beilinson medical center; growing residential and high‑tech presence • Historic origins: Modern founding in 1878; the site also includes the archaeological mound Tel Mulabbis with remains from...