Alon Shvut , literally , " oak of return " , is a reference to the return of the Jews expelled from Gush Etzion by the Jordanian Arab Legion in 1948 following the Kfar Etzion massacre . The 700-year-old Kermes Oak ( Quercus calliprinos ) is sacred to the Arabs with the name '' Ballutet el Yerzeh '' ( oak of Yerzeh ) . It was a central feature of Gush Etzion and became known as " lone oak " . The town was constructed adjacent to the oak , which is considered a symbol of renewal and continuity . The oak is incorporated in the municipal emblem
Kfar Etzion massacre
Kfar Etzion massacre
Alon Shvut