Historical background

: (The Nili symbol was taken from one of the signs on the site)

Nili - an underground organization established in 1915 during World War I when its name was taken from the initials of the verse from the book of Samuel 1 - Netzaf Yisrael Lo Yeshaker (the Eternal One of Israel will not lie). The organization established Following the Turkish rule in the Land of Israel, he helped the British and provided espionage services to the British army that fought against the Ottoman Empire in the Sinai Peninsula and the Land of Israel.

Nili was founded by Aharon Aaronsohn - an agronomist who discovered the wheat mother , Avshalom Feinberg who worked with Aharon Aaronsohn, and Alexander Aaronsohn (Aharon’s brother).
Later, Aharon’s sister, Sarah Aaronsohn , also joined the underground.

Nili, which was a small group, carried out espionage operations for the British through agents who worked or were in contact with the Ottoman government. The center of the underground was in Rishon Lezion, but it also had activities in Jerusalem, Afula, Damascus and other places.

In 1917, a carrier pigeon sent by Sarah Aaronsohn was captured, at the same time Naaman Belkind (Avshalom Feinberg’s cousin) who was a member of the Nili and was executed in Damascus . These events caused the Turks to suspect the existence of a spy network. Sarah Aaronsohn who lived in Zichron Ya’akov , refused to escape , she was arrested, tortured, and was nominated to be put on the gallows. Sarah tried to commit suicide in prison, and after a few days died of her injuries.

It was effectively the end of the underground.