Arnona Neighborhood in Jerusalem
Arnona is an upscale neighborhood in the southern district of Jerusalem situated between Talpiot and Kibbutz Ramat Rachel. The Arnona neighborhood is considered to be one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the country and was designed with a landscaped garden, jogging trails, and beautiful views of the city.
The neighborhood is named after its view of the biblical River Arnon, now known as Wadi Mujib in Jordan, which runs from the Moab Hills to the Dead Sea. The well-known explanation for the name of this valley is due to the Biblical Battle of Arnon.
The Arnona observation point is one of the highest points in Jerusalem, at 800 meters above sea level, and from it, one can see the Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and, as mentioned before, the River Arnon/Wadi Mujib.
The neighborhood is located on the eastern edge of urban Jerusalem, bordered by Hebron Road to the west, Derech Hevron and Talpiot to the south, Kibbutz Ramat Rachel to the east, and Old Talpiot to the north.
North Talpiot, also known as Arnona, is a newer residential neighborhood that offers a panoramic view of the Hinnom and Kidron Valleys and the Old City.
The neighborhood was designed by the renowned architect Richard Kaufman, who also designed most of the neighborhoods in the city, including Rechavia, Bayit Vegan, and many others. The unique layout of the neighborhood allowed for the preservation of many plants and trees that are indigenous to this area.
Israel’s 1948 War of Independence posed challenges for the Arnona neighborhood. Under Jordanian occupation and Egyptian control, Jews living in Arnona left their homes as it was strategically important for military reasons. However, when Jordan agreed to have a ceasefire with Israel after a year of the war, the ceasefire line was drawn at the eastern territory of the neighborhood. The neighborhood had lost its original borders following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and regained them again in 1967, following the Six-Day War.
Then, in recent years, the construction of new buildings in Arnona has led to a substantial increase in property values. Now, the southern suburb of Jerusalem is occupied by families who represent a wide range of social and religious backgrounds.
