First published: 15/12/19.

Ilya Burlak 0

Degania & Nahalal

Degania & Nahalal (On tentative list)

Degania & Nahalal by Ilya Burlak

The original moshav and the earliest kibbutz may have non-trivial meaning to students of sociology, but I can't imagine that Nahalal and/or Degania ever become a WH site. Israel's withdrawal from UNESCO a few years ago obviously puts a damper of any new Israeli sites being inscribed in the near future, but even if Israel rejoins at some point I can't see how these two villages can claim anything of OUV.

There is literally nothing to see at either. Nahalal may be a model of concentric village design, but if you drive to its center or along its main circular road, you will only see an unimpressive - and in places rather neglected - backwater rural habitation. Degania grounds are a few degrees prettier and a tiny shade livelier. But not in any sense remarkable or even reflective of its pioneering impact.

I stopped by each of them for about 15 minutes or so on my recent 2-week trip to Israel solely because I was driving by. If these were dedicated trips, I'd be mad at myself for wasting time.

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