Deir al-Ghusun
Encyclopedia
Deir al-Ghusun is a Palestinian
town in the Tulkarm Governorate
, located eight kilometers northeast of the city of Tulkarm
in the northern West Bank
. The town is near the Green Line
(border between Israel
and the West Bank
). The town had a population of 9,460 in 2006 and its altitude is 200 meters.
, used mainly during the plowing and harvesting seasons, on the outskirts of the village. From the 1920s onwards, six of them became independent villages.Before the establishment of the State of Israel, Deir al-Ghusun's jurisdiction encompassed the villages of Yama, Bir as-Sikka, al-Marja, and Ibthin, which in 1988 were merged to form the Israeli-Arab
town Zemer. The villages of Jarisha
and Masqufa are located within Deir al-Ghusun but are governed by independent village councils.
s were seized by Israel. Currently, its total land area is about 13,000 dunams of which 2,268 is built-up area. Since the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority
in 1994, the built-up area of the town increased by over 20% or an annual expansion of 34 dunams by 2000. Agricultural land comprises 7,432 dunams, while the remainder is a part of the Seam Zone
.
, the temporary sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority
in 2006-2007, and the disruption of trade and transportation by Israeli West Bank Barrier
has somewhat hampered the economy. Agriculture constitutes 50-54% of the local economy, and the town's main agricultural products are olive oil, citrus, melons, cucumbers and nuts.
The commercial sector also provides for the town's residents, but is not very significant. The service sector comprises 25% of the town's income. A reservoir to supply the town with fresh water without the frustration of residents physically transporting water from Tulkarm was built in 2003 and replaced a dysfunctional older water tank, built in 1978.
(PCBS), Deir al-Ghusun had a population of approximately 9,460 inhabitants in mid-2006. In 1922, the town had a population of 1,259 and according to a census in 1945, the number of inhabitants rose to 2,220. In the PCBS's first official census in 1997, the town had a population of 7,055 inhabitants including 660 refugees. The gender makeup was 3,612 males and 3,443 females.
Approximately 53% of Deir al-Ghusun's residents are within the employment age range (15-64) and females constitute a significant 48% of the local labor force. According to the municipal government, the town's economy was productive and steady in the post-First Intifada
period, but decreased by 70% in 2001 at the beginning of the Second Intifada. The unemployment rate increased dramatically from 55% in 1999 to 80% after 2000. Approximately 51% of the households of the town have 1-5 family members, 43% have 6-10 members and 6% have more than 10 members. About 9% of the population in Deir al-Ghusun is illiterate and of this statistic, 83% are women.
Salam Fayyad
, the current Prime Minister
and Finance Minister
of the PNA was born in Deir al-Ghusun.
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...
town in the Tulkarm Governorate
Tulkarm Governorate
The Tulkarm Governorate is an administrative district and one of 16 Governorates of the Palestinian National Authority located in the northwestern West Bank. The governorate's land area is 268 square kilometers. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the governorate had a...
, located eight kilometers northeast of the city of Tulkarm
Tulkarm
Tulkarem or Tulkarm is a Palestinian city in the northern Samarian mountain range in the Tulkarm Governorate in the extreme northwestern West Bank adjacent to the Netanya and Haifa districts to the west, the Nablus and Jenin Districts to the east...
in the northern 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...
. The town is near the Green Line
Green Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
(border between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and 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...
). The town had a population of 9,460 in 2006 and its altitude is 200 meters.
History
In the early 20th century, residents of Deir el-Ghusun established agricultural hamlets known as khirbaKhirba
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....
, used mainly during the plowing and harvesting seasons, on the outskirts of the village. From the 1920s onwards, six of them became independent villages.Before the establishment of the State of Israel, Deir al-Ghusun's jurisdiction encompassed the villages of Yama, Bir as-Sikka, al-Marja, and Ibthin, which in 1988 were merged to form the Israeli-Arab
Arab citizens of Israel
Arab citizens of Israel refers to citizens of Israel who are not Jewish, and whose cultural and linguistic heritage or ethnic identity is Arab....
town Zemer. The villages of Jarisha
Jarisha
Jarisha was a Palestinian Arab village located from the ancient site of Tell Jarisha , on the south bank of Al-Awja . After the establishment of Tel Aviv, it was one of five Arab villages to fall within its municipal boundaries...
and Masqufa are located within Deir al-Ghusun but are governed by independent village councils.
Land
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, 14,000 dunamDunam
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 were seized by Israel. Currently, its total land area is about 13,000 dunams of which 2,268 is built-up area. Since the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
in 1994, the built-up area of the town increased by over 20% or an annual expansion of 34 dunams by 2000. Agricultural land comprises 7,432 dunams, while the remainder is a part of the Seam Zone
Seam Zone
Seam Zone is a term used to refer to a land area in the West Bank located east of the Green Line and west of Israel's separation barrier, populated largely by Israelis in settlements such as Alfei Menashe, Ariel, Beit Arye, Modi'in Illit, Giv'at Ze'ev, Ma'ale Adumim, Beitar Illit and Efrat.As of...
.
Economy
Deir al-Ghusun was more prosperous than other Palestinian towns, however, the confiscation of substantial amounts of cultivable land east of the Green LineGreen Line (Israel)
Green Line refers to the demarcation lines set out in the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbours after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War...
, the temporary sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority
Economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority
The 2006–2007 economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority were economic sanctions imposed by Israel and the Quartet on the Middle East against the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian territories following the January 2006 legislative elections that brought Hamas to...
in 2006-2007, and the disruption of trade and transportation by Israeli West Bank Barrier
Israeli West Bank barrier
The Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
has somewhat hampered the economy. Agriculture constitutes 50-54% of the local economy, and the town's main agricultural products are olive oil, citrus, melons, cucumbers and nuts.
The commercial sector also provides for the town's residents, but is not very significant. The service sector comprises 25% of the town's income. A reservoir to supply the town with fresh water without the frustration of residents physically transporting water from Tulkarm was built in 2003 and replaced a dysfunctional older water tank, built in 1978.
Demographics
According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of StatisticsPalestinian 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), Deir al-Ghusun had a population of approximately 9,460 inhabitants in mid-2006. In 1922, the town had a population of 1,259 and according to a census in 1945, the number of inhabitants rose to 2,220. In the PCBS's first official census in 1997, the town had a population of 7,055 inhabitants including 660 refugees. The gender makeup was 3,612 males and 3,443 females.
Approximately 53% of Deir al-Ghusun's residents are within the employment age range (15-64) and females constitute a significant 48% of the local labor force. According to the municipal government, the town's economy was productive and steady in the post-First Intifada
First Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
period, but decreased by 70% in 2001 at the beginning of the Second Intifada. The unemployment rate increased dramatically from 55% in 1999 to 80% after 2000. Approximately 51% of the households of the town have 1-5 family members, 43% have 6-10 members and 6% have more than 10 members. About 9% of the population in Deir al-Ghusun is illiterate and of this statistic, 83% are women.
Salam Fayyad
Salam Fayyad
Salam Fayyad is a Palestinian politician and Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority of the Palestinian National Authority. His first appointment, on 15 June 2007, which was justified by President Mahmoud Abbas on the basis of "national emergency", has not been confirmed by the...
, the current Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority
The Prime Minister of the Palestinian National Authority is the head of government of the Palestinian Authority government.The Prime Minister's Office was created in 2003 to manage day-to-day activities of the Palestinian government. The position was created because both Israel and the United...
and Finance Minister
Finance Minister of the Palestinian National Authority
The Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority is the head of the Palestinian National Authority branch that is in charge of finance. The minister deals with launching audits, collecting tax from Palestinian businesses and overseeing financial aid directed to the PNA...
of the PNA was born in Deir al-Ghusun.