Arab al-Jahalin
Encyclopedia
'Arab al-Jahalin also known as al-Jabal is a Palestinian
Bedouin
village in the Jerusalem Governorate
, located five kilometers southeast of Jerusalem in the West Bank
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
(PCBS), 'Arab al-Jahalin had a population of approximately 1,205 inhabitants in mid-year 2006. The village is situated on a hillside outside of al-Eizariya
and 300 meters away from the Jerusalem Municipal dump. It is located in Area C of the West Bank — giving Israel full control over the village, however the populace hold Palestinian IDs.
'Arab al-Jahalin contains a mosque
, a seven-class school and a 12-class school. The village is linked to the East Jerusalem
electricity system and has running water. As-Sawahira ash Sharqiya
shares the facilities, particularly schools and health amenities with the villages of 'Arab al-Jahalin, Jabal Mukaber and ash-Sheikh Sa'd
. The healthcare facilities for as-Sawahira ash Sharqiya are designated as Ministry of Health level 2. All residents of the 'Arab al-Jahalin are considered refugees
and have UNRWA refugee papers.
in the northern Negev
, but were entirely evicted from the area in the early 1950s by the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF). Prior to Israel
's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War
, they were traveling and herding their livestock between Ramallah
, Wadi Qelt
and Jerusalem, maintaining the traditional Bedouin lifestyle. In particular, the 'Arab al-Jahalin bred sheep. After the war, the IDF confiscated most of the al-Jahalin lands and as a result, tribe members settled in area beside the Israeli settlement
of Ma'ale Adumim outside Jerusalem.
In July 1994, the IDF issued an eviction order, which provoked tribe members to appeal to the Supreme Court of Israel
which rejected their appeal. Throughout the 1990s there were 100-120 military or court orders for the eviction of al-Jahalin Bedouin. The mass eviction occurred in 1996 when all 4,000 members of 'Arab al-Jahalin tribe were evicted from their encampments. However, in 1998, another appeal resulted in a deal between the Israeli Civil Administration and representatives of 35 al-Jahalin families (about 200 individuals) who were permitted to "lease state lands" that originally belonged to the Palestinian town of Abu Dis
. Thus, the village of 'Arab al-Jahalin was founded.
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
Bedouin
Bedouin
The Bedouin are a part of a predominantly desert-dwelling Arab ethnic group traditionally divided into tribes or clans, known in Arabic as ..-Etymology:...
village in the Jerusalem Governorate
Jerusalem Governorate
The Jerusalem Governorate is one of 16 Palestinian governorates situated in the central portion of the West Bank. Its claimed district capital is East Jerusalem, which is, however, under Israeli occupation and regarded by Israel as being part of its territory. The total land area of the...
, located five kilometers southeast of Jerusalem in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is the statistical organization under the umbrella of the Palestinian Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority....
(PCBS), 'Arab al-Jahalin had a population of approximately 1,205 inhabitants in mid-year 2006. The village is situated on a hillside outside of al-Eizariya
Al-Eizariya
Al-Eizariya or al-Izzariya , sometimes referred to by its medieval name of Bethany, is a city in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, it is the second largest Palestinian city in the Jerusalem Governorate , with a population of 17,606 inhabitants.Located on the...
and 300 meters away from the Jerusalem Municipal dump. It is located in Area C of the West Bank — giving Israel full control over the village, however the populace hold Palestinian IDs.
'Arab al-Jahalin contains a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, a seven-class school and a 12-class school. The village is linked to the East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem
East Jerusalem or Eastern Jerusalem refer to the parts of Jerusalem captured and annexed by Jordan in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and then captured and annexed by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War...
electricity system and has running water. As-Sawahira ash Sharqiya
As-Sawahira ash Sharqiya
as-Sawahira ash Sharqiya is a Palestinian town in the Jerusalem Governorate, located 6 kilometers south-east of Jerusalem in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics , as-Sawahira ash Sharqiya had a population of approximately 5,210 inhabitants in mid-year 2006...
shares the facilities, particularly schools and health amenities with the villages of 'Arab al-Jahalin, Jabal Mukaber and ash-Sheikh Sa'd
Ash-Sheikh Sa'd
ash-Sheikh Sa'd is a Palestinian village in the Jerusalem Governorate, located 6 kilometers Southeast of Jerusalem in the central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 2,406 in 2006....
. The healthcare facilities for as-Sawahira ash Sharqiya are designated as Ministry of Health level 2. All residents of the 'Arab al-Jahalin are considered refugees
Palestinian refugee
Palestinian refugees or Palestine refugees are the people and their descendants, predominantly Palestinian Arabic-speakers, who fled or were expelled from their homes during and after the 1948 Palestine War, within that part of the British Mandate of Palestine, that after that war became the...
and have UNRWA refugee papers.
History
The 'Arab al-Jahalin tribe were originally based around Tel AradTel Arad
Tel Arad or 'old' Arad is located west of the Dead Sea, about 10 km west of modern Arad in an area surrounded by mountain ridges which is known as the Arad Plain. The site is divided into a lower city and an upper hill which holds the only ever discovered 'House of Yahweh' in the land of...
in the northern Negev
Negev
The Negev is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The Arabs, including the native Bedouin population of the region, refer to the desert as al-Naqab. The origin of the word Neghebh is from the Hebrew root denoting 'dry'...
, but were entirely evicted from the area in the early 1950s by the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF). Prior to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's victory in the 1967 Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
, they were traveling and herding their livestock between Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
, Wadi Qelt
Wadi Qelt
Wadi Qelt or Nahal Prat is a valley or stream running west to east across the Judean desert in the West Bank, originating near Jerusalem and terminating near Jericho, near the Dead Sea...
and Jerusalem, maintaining the traditional Bedouin lifestyle. In particular, the 'Arab al-Jahalin bred sheep. After the war, the IDF confiscated most of the al-Jahalin lands and as a result, tribe members settled in area beside the Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
of Ma'ale Adumim outside Jerusalem.
In July 1994, the IDF issued an eviction order, which provoked tribe members to appeal to the Supreme Court of Israel
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
which rejected their appeal. Throughout the 1990s there were 100-120 military or court orders for the eviction of al-Jahalin Bedouin. The mass eviction occurred in 1996 when all 4,000 members of 'Arab al-Jahalin tribe were evicted from their encampments. However, in 1998, another appeal resulted in a deal between the Israeli Civil Administration and representatives of 35 al-Jahalin families (about 200 individuals) who were permitted to "lease state lands" that originally belonged to the Palestinian town of Abu Dis
Abu Dis
Abu Dis is a Palestinian town in the Jerusalem Governorate, bordering Jerusalem. Abu Dis is due east of the Jerusalem municipal border. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics , the town had a population of approximately 12,100 in mid-year 2006.-Ottoman era:Abu Dis was one of the...
. Thus, the village of 'Arab al-Jahalin was founded.