Kfarhamam
Encyclopedia
Kfarhamam is a small village located in the Arqoob region in the Hasbaya District
in Southern Lebanon
, which lies on the eastern side of the Nabatieh Governorate. Kfarhamam is bounded by El Mari village from the south, Hebbariyeh village from the north, Kfar Chouba from the east, and Rachaya Al Foukhar
from the west. It is 117 kilometres (72.7 mi) away from Beirut
, and around 850 metres (2,788.7 ft) above sea level. According to the latest electoral lists, the population of the village today is about 3,500, of which only a very small minority reside in the village.
The village has a strategic location in the Hermon mountains of Lebanon, as it overlooks the Upper Galilee
of Israel
and is very close by to the Golan Heights and the Shebaa farms
. Its importance also lies in the fact that its very close to an intersection of the borders of three different countries; those being Lebanon
, Israel, and Syria
.
and Canada
to earn their living; most of which still haven't returned till this day. Even today, the villagers of Kfarhamam usually live in foreign countries/cities due to the many effects of the Israeli occupation and the Lebanese Governments' negligence towards the Arqoob region in which the village lies. Most of these villagers are distributed between Brazil
, Canada
, the Persian Gulf
, Europe, and the more advanced cities of Lebanon such as Beirut
, Saida
, and the Bekaa valley.
Important intellectual figures of Kfarhamam include the Brazilian Member of Parliament in the 1970s Omar Alaa Eldin, the village's previous Mokhtar Abdo Ali Abdulhamid, the previous Lebanese Member of Parliament Ahmad Sweid, the Judge Mohamed Sweid, and Dr. Ghazi Chahrour who happened to be one of the first few doctors to find a cure for certain cases of cancer around the world, which he achieved through his work between Europe and Brazil. It is thought that Dr. Chahrour, holder of both the Lebanese and Brazilian nationalities, was later assassinated by certain Pharmaceutical corporations, but so far no information has been revealed about his disappearance.
Today, the villagers of Kfarhamam live a more peaceful life. Although they were highly affected by the 2006 Lebanon war, a lot of these villagers have returned and are planning to live in Southern Lebanon. Unlike many other villages in the region, Kfarhamam is not affiliated with any single Lebanese political party. The majority of its people are previous Leftists who don't seem to be able to identify neither with the fundemantalist ideology of Hizbollah nor with the other Pro-Western parties in Lebanon.
Hasbaya District
The Hasbaya District is a district in the Nabatiyeh Governorate of Lebanon. The capital of the district is Hasbaya....
in Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon
Southern Lebanon is the geographical area of Lebanon comprising the South Governorate and the Nabatiye Governorate. These two entities were divided from the same province in the early 1990s...
, which lies on the eastern side of the Nabatieh Governorate. Kfarhamam is bounded by El Mari village from the south, Hebbariyeh village from the north, Kfar Chouba from the east, and Rachaya Al Foukhar
Rachaya Al Foukhar
Rachaya Al Foukhar is a Lebanese village in the district of Hasbaya in the Nabatiye Governorate in southern Lebanon. It is located on the western slopes of Mount Hermon at an altitude starting at 750 m with the highest summit being at 1,250 m.The population is Greek Orthodox.-External links:*...
from the west. It is 117 kilometres (72.7 mi) away from Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, and around 850 metres (2,788.7 ft) above sea level. According to the latest electoral lists, the population of the village today is about 3,500, of which only a very small minority reside in the village.
The village has a strategic location in the Hermon mountains of Lebanon, as it overlooks the Upper Galilee
Upper Galilee
The Upper Galilee is a geographical-political term in use since the end of the Second Temple period, originally referring to a mountainous area overlapping the present northern Israel and southern Lebanon, its borders being the Litani river in the north, the Mediterranean Sea in the west, the Beit...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and is very close by to the Golan Heights and the Shebaa farms
Shebaa farms
The Shebaa Farms are a small uninhabited territory claimed by Lebanon, but occupied by Israel which claims they are in Syria's Golan Heights. Syrian policy is to vaguely accept the Lebanese claim, while refusing any binding demarcation until Israeli forces withdraw from the area.The United Nations...
. Its importance also lies in the fact that its very close to an intersection of the borders of three different countries; those being Lebanon
Lebanon
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...
, Israel, and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
.
History
Kfarhamam is originally a Syriac word. Kfar means house and hamam means peace, hence Kfarhamam means "the house of peace". The village is about 500 years old and has been destroyed and rebuilt many times since the 1970s. Many people had escaped the village due to the security problems of the region, until in the late 1970s the village was fully evacuated for a certain period of time. Fifty percent of these evacuees had to immigrate to BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to earn their living; most of which still haven't returned till this day. Even today, the villagers of Kfarhamam usually live in foreign countries/cities due to the many effects of the Israeli occupation and the Lebanese Governments' negligence towards the Arqoob region in which the village lies. Most of these villagers are distributed between Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
, Europe, and the more advanced cities of Lebanon such as Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Saida
Sidon
Sidon or Saïda is the third-largest city in Lebanon. It is located in the South Governorate of Lebanon, on the Mediterranean coast, about 40 km north of Tyre and 40 km south of the capital Beirut. In Genesis, Sidon is the son of Canaan the grandson of Noah...
, and the Bekaa valley.
Important intellectual figures of Kfarhamam include the Brazilian Member of Parliament in the 1970s Omar Alaa Eldin, the village's previous Mokhtar Abdo Ali Abdulhamid, the previous Lebanese Member of Parliament Ahmad Sweid, the Judge Mohamed Sweid, and Dr. Ghazi Chahrour who happened to be one of the first few doctors to find a cure for certain cases of cancer around the world, which he achieved through his work between Europe and Brazil. It is thought that Dr. Chahrour, holder of both the Lebanese and Brazilian nationalities, was later assassinated by certain Pharmaceutical corporations, but so far no information has been revealed about his disappearance.
Israeli Occupation [1978-2000]
During the Israeli occupation of the village for 22 years, the village did not hesitate in offering its young men to fight for the cause of liberation; a lot of them ended up as prisoners, martyrs, or exiles. One example of these is its previous Mokhtar (village mayor) Abdo Ali Abdulhamid who was exiled several times, last of which was in 1994. The reason for his latest exile lied in his uncovering of an Israeli plan to turn the Arqoob area of Southern Lebanon into Jewish Falasha settlements, and his work back then with the leaders of the region such as Kamel al Assaad and the Lebanese government to prevent this plan from materializing; that in addition to his refusal alongside with the other villagers to work with the Israelis and their allies. Abdul Hamid managed to serve as the mayor of Kfarhamam from 1950 till 2001. Many other examples are present; for a lot of the villagers joined the Lebanese Communist Party during the years of occupation to fight for the liberation of their village, and several of them have either been killed, jailed, or gone missing. Of these Communists is one of the earliest Lebanese fighters to get killed while struggling for liberation, Yehya El-Khaled, who was honored by naming the main street in the village after his name. Kfarhamam was the HQ of Norways NORBATTs 3rd plt Coy B at UNIFIL during the UNIFIL-mission 1978-1998.Today, the villagers of Kfarhamam live a more peaceful life. Although they were highly affected by the 2006 Lebanon war, a lot of these villagers have returned and are planning to live in Southern Lebanon. Unlike many other villages in the region, Kfarhamam is not affiliated with any single Lebanese political party. The majority of its people are previous Leftists who don't seem to be able to identify neither with the fundemantalist ideology of Hizbollah nor with the other Pro-Western parties in Lebanon.
Geography
Kfarhamam is known for its many different kinds of trees, mainly its pine, olives, figs, and grapes. The village's production of these fruits is much higher than its demand. There are small Roman ruins in Kfar Hamam, as well as 3 caves, and some historic tunnels; the security problems of the region have prevented further excavation in those locations. In addition to that, the village is rich in water springs and wells and is hence self-dependent in terms of water supply.Sources
- :ar:كفرحمام
- http://kfarhamam.pipop.org/
- "Mabrouk et Tahrir" documentary, Dir. Dalia FATHALLAH, Prod. INA - IMAGES PLUS, Info here: http://www.imagesplus.org/pages/0_docu_m.htm