Gush Etzion is a group of Israeli communities, established between 1943 and 1947, located halfway between Jerusalem and Hebron. Prior attempts to reestablish communities in the area in 1917-1919 and 1935-1936 failed. The history of the communities is split into two distinct section as a result of the destruction by Arab armed forces of the original communities Kfar Etzion, Maasuot Yitzchak, Ein Tzurim and Revadim during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. (See Kfar Etzion massacre.)

The communities were reestablished after the Six-Day War, beginning with Kfar Etzion in September 1967. Many of the returnees to Kfar Etzion were children of communities members massacred in 1948. Currently, Gush Etzion includes: Kfar Etzion, Har Gilo, Alon Shvut, Rosh Tzurim, Elazar, Tekoa, Migdal Oz, Maale Amos, Neve Daniel, Nokdim - El David, Metzad, Carmei Tzur, Kedar, Bat Ayin.

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