Alma, Palestine
Encyclopedia
Alma was a Palestinian
Arab
village in the District of Safad
. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
on October 30, 1948 during Operation Hiram
. It was located 10 km north of Safad.
In 1945 it had a population of 950. 'Alma had several nearby khirba
s and architectural fragments with inscriptions from an ancient synagogue
.
border. The Crusaders
called the village Alme. Several ancient ruins remain and three inscribed architectural fragments in Hebrew and Aramaic from an ancient synagogue were found on the surface of the village site between 1914 and 1957. While travelling though the region in the 12th century CE, Benjamin of Tudela
noted that Alma contained fifty Jewish inhabitants and, "a large cemetery of the Israelites."
At the beginning of the period of Ottoman rule
over Palestine, an Italian traveller to Alma in 1523 noted that there were 15 Jewish families there and one synagogue. In the Ottoman tax registers of 1596, the village is listed as forming part of the nahiya (subdistrict) of Jira in the liwa'
(district) of Safad. The population is recorded as 288 Muslim households and 140 Muslim bachelors, together with 7 Jewish households and 1 Jewish bachelor. The village paid taxes on goats, beehives, a water-powered mill, and a press that was used for processing olives or grapes.
The village was totally destroyed in the earthquake of January 1837.
James Finn
, the British consul to Jerusalem who travelled around Palestine between 1853 and 1856, describes the village of Alma as being situated in an area in which volcanic basalt was abundant. Around the village, women and children were gathering olives from the trees by beating them with poles and then collecting the fallen fruit. He notes that the small district in which the village is located is known by the locals as "the Khait" (Arabic for "string") and that they, "boast of its extraordinary fertility in corn-produce." Edward Robinson
and Eli Smith
, who travelled to the region in 1838, give the full name of the village as Alma el-Khait . In The Survey of Western Palestine (1881), Alma is described as a village built of stone with about 250 "Algerine
Mohammedan
" residents, situated in the middle of a fertile plain with a few gardens.
The population of Alma in 1922 consisted of 309 Muslims, increasing to 712 Muslims in 148 occupied houses by 1931.
The villagers were heavily involved in agriculture, including raising livestock and growing crops, particularly grain and fruit and their orchards were concentrated on the northern and northwestern outskirts of the village. During the 1942/43 season olive trees were recorded as being grown on 750 dunums of village land, making it the largest area devoted to olive growing in the whole district of Safad. The trees in 550 dunums were bearing fruit. In 1944-45 some 983 dunums was irrigated or used for orchards and a total of 7,475 dunums was allocated to cereal farming.
The village comprised a total area of 19,498 dunum
s of which 17,240 dunums was run by Arabs and the rest public. The population of the village was entirely Arab in ethnicity and Muslim in religion. They had their own mosque as well as an elementary school, which pupils from al-Rihaniyya
also attended.
A large number of inhabitants were employed in cereal farming, which occupied about 38% of the land area. Some land was also allocated for irrigation and plantation, and the growing of olives.
Types of landuse in dunam
s by Arabs in 1945:
The land ownership of the village before occupation in dunum
s:
on 30 October 1948. Israeli historian Benny Morris
has documented that Alma was the one village in the area where the villagers were uprooted and/or expelled by the Israeli forces, in spite of the fact that they had not offered any resistance.
In 1949, the Israeli moshav
of Alma
was built about 0.5 km east of where the built-up portion of the former village was located.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
village in the District of Safad
District of Safad
The District of Safad was an administrative district, situated in the British Mandate of Palestine around the city of Safad. After the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the district disintegrated.-Depopulated settlements:...
. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
on October 30, 1948 during Operation Hiram
Operation Hiram
Operation Hiram was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was led by General Moshe Carmel, and aimed at capturing the upper Galilee region from the Arab Liberation Army forces led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji and a Syrian battalion...
. It was located 10 km north of Safad.
In 1945 it had a population of 950. 'Alma had several nearby khirba
Khirba
Khirba is an Arabic term that refers to a secondary or satellite village on the outskirts of an agricultural village. The khirba was used intermittently during the year, primarily during the plowing or harvest seasons....
s and architectural fragments with inscriptions from an ancient synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
.
History
Alma was situated in the heart of upper Galilee in the middle of a fertile plain, about 4 km south of the LebaneseLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
border. The Crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
called the village Alme. Several ancient ruins remain and three inscribed architectural fragments in Hebrew and Aramaic from an ancient synagogue were found on the surface of the village site between 1914 and 1957. While travelling though the region in the 12th century CE, Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin of Tudela
Benjamin of Tudela was a medieval Jewish traveler who visited Europe, Asia, and Africa in the 12th century. His vivid descriptions of western Asia preceded those of Marco Polo by a hundred years...
noted that Alma contained fifty Jewish inhabitants and, "a large cemetery of the Israelites."
At the beginning of the period of Ottoman rule
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
over Palestine, an Italian traveller to Alma in 1523 noted that there were 15 Jewish families there and one synagogue. In the Ottoman tax registers of 1596, the village is listed as forming part of the nahiya (subdistrict) of Jira in the liwa'
Liwa (arabic)
Liwa or Liwa is an Arabic term meaning district, banner, or flag, a type of administrative division. It was interchangeable with the Turkish term "Sanjak" in the time of the Ottoman Empire. After the fall of the empire, the term was used in the Arab countries formerly under Ottoman rule...
(district) of Safad. The population is recorded as 288 Muslim households and 140 Muslim bachelors, together with 7 Jewish households and 1 Jewish bachelor. The village paid taxes on goats, beehives, a water-powered mill, and a press that was used for processing olives or grapes.
The village was totally destroyed in the earthquake of January 1837.
James Finn
James Finn
James Finn was a British Consul in Jerusalem, in the then Ottoman Empire . He arrived in 1845 with his wife Elizabeth Anne Finn. Finn was a devout Christian, who belonged to the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews, but who did not engage in missionary work during his years in...
, the British consul to Jerusalem who travelled around Palestine between 1853 and 1856, describes the village of Alma as being situated in an area in which volcanic basalt was abundant. Around the village, women and children were gathering olives from the trees by beating them with poles and then collecting the fallen fruit. He notes that the small district in which the village is located is known by the locals as "the Khait" (Arabic for "string") and that they, "boast of its extraordinary fertility in corn-produce." Edward Robinson
Edward Robinson (scholar)
Edward Robinson was an American biblical scholar, known as the “Father of Biblical Geography.” He has been referred to as the “founder of modern Palestinology.” -Biography:...
and Eli Smith
Eli Smith
Eli Smith was an American Protestant Missionary and scholar, born at Northford, Conn. He graduated from Yale in 1821 and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1826. He worked in Malta until 1829, then in company with H. G. O. Dwight traveled through Armenia and Georgia to Persia. They published...
, who travelled to the region in 1838, give the full name of the village as Alma el-Khait . In The Survey of Western Palestine (1881), Alma is described as a village built of stone with about 250 "Algerine
Algerine
Algerine can refer to:*Algerian , various ships of the Royal Navythree ship classes:Algerino refers to:*A nickname given to inhabitants of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, by residents of Whitby...
Mohammedan
Mohammedan
Mohammedan is a Western term for a follower of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. As an archaic English language term, it is used as both a noun and an adjective, meaning belonging or relating to, either Muhammad or the religion, doctrines, institutions and practices that he established...
" residents, situated in the middle of a fertile plain with a few gardens.
The population of Alma in 1922 consisted of 309 Muslims, increasing to 712 Muslims in 148 occupied houses by 1931.
The villagers were heavily involved in agriculture, including raising livestock and growing crops, particularly grain and fruit and their orchards were concentrated on the northern and northwestern outskirts of the village. During the 1942/43 season olive trees were recorded as being grown on 750 dunums of village land, making it the largest area devoted to olive growing in the whole district of Safad. The trees in 550 dunums were bearing fruit. In 1944-45 some 983 dunums was irrigated or used for orchards and a total of 7,475 dunums was allocated to cereal farming.
The village comprised a total area of 19,498 dunum
Dunum
Dunum is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
s of which 17,240 dunums was run by Arabs and the rest public. The population of the village was entirely Arab in ethnicity and Muslim in religion. They had their own mosque as well as an elementary school, which pupils from al-Rihaniyya
Rehaniya
Rehaniya is a predominantly Circassian village about 8 km north of Safed in northern Israel. It belongs to the Merom HaGalil Regional Council.-Background and history:...
also attended.
A large number of inhabitants were employed in cereal farming, which occupied about 38% of the land area. Some land was also allocated for irrigation and plantation, and the growing of olives.
Types of landuse in dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s by Arabs in 1945:
| Land Usage | Dunams |
|---|---|
| Irrigated & Plantation | 983 |
| Olives | 750 |
| Cereal | 7,475 |
| Urban | 147 |
| Cultivable | 8,458 |
| Non-cultivable | 10,893 |
The land ownership of the village before occupation in dunum
Dunum
Dunum is a municipality in the district of Wittmund, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
s:
| Owner | Durums |
|---|---|
| Arab | 17,240 |
| Jewish | 0 |
| Public | 2,258 |
| Total | 19,498 |
1948 war and depopulation
The village was attacked by the Israeli forces in Operation HiramOperation Hiram
Operation Hiram was a military operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It was led by General Moshe Carmel, and aimed at capturing the upper Galilee region from the Arab Liberation Army forces led by Fawzi al-Qawuqji and a Syrian battalion...
on 30 October 1948. Israeli historian Benny Morris
Benny Morris
Benny Morris is professor of History in the Middle East Studies department of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in the city of Be'er Sheva, Israel...
has documented that Alma was the one village in the area where the villagers were uprooted and/or expelled by the Israeli forces, in spite of the fact that they had not offered any resistance.
In 1949, the Israeli moshav
Moshav
Moshav is a type of Israeli town or settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of individual farms pioneered by the Labour Zionists during the second aliyah...
of Alma
Alma, Israel
Alma is a religious Jewish moshav in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Merom HaGalil Regional Council....
was built about 0.5 km east of where the built-up portion of the former village was located.
Contemporary situation
Today Alma is a fenced-in site and the rubble remains of the houses which are covered in thorny grasses. Israeli farmers still cultivate fruit and olives there.External links
- Welcome To 'Alma
- 'Alma at Khalil Sakakini Cultural CenterKhalil Sakakini Cultural CenterKhalil Sakakini Cultural Center is an organization established in 1996. It is located at 4 Raja Street, Ramallah in the West Bank. The traditional manor that houses the centre was the former family home of Khalil Salem Salah, the mayor of Ramallah between 1947/1951, is now owned by the Palestinian...
- 'Alma, Dr. Khalil Rizk.