Settlement in the area goes back to ancient times, with thousands of year old terraces and archaeological remains in the area. In 1929, old Motza was attacked by Arab rioters and some residents were murdered.[2] Four years later in 1933 a new moshav, Motza Ilit, was established at a higher location on the same slope.[3]
In January 1934 a house-warming party was held by twenty Jewish families who had built homes in Motza Illit with the aid of the Jewish National Council ("Va'ad Leumi") and emergency funds.[4]
It has three secular kindergartens. Elementary school children study at the Ein Harim Elementary School near the Beit Zayit water reservoir. For secondary school, Motza Illit's children study at a range of local secondary schools (Ein Karem Secondary School) and in Jerusalem (University Secondary School, Boyer, Science and Arts Secondary School, Academy for Music and Dance and more).
