Rameh
Encyclopedia
Rameh is a local council
in the North District
of Israel
. It is entirely populated by Arabs
, of whom around 51% are Christian
, 29% Druze
, and a further 20% Muslim
. The town is located five kilometers east of the cities of Shaghur and Karmiel
.
identifies Rameh with the ancient Ramah of Asher (Joshua 19,29), citing its location and ancient sarcophagi discovered on a hill outside the village as evidence. Rameh was a major town during the rule of the Crusaders
.
According to local tradition, the modern town of Rameh was founded in the 17th century. It was one of the largest villages in the Galilee
during the period of Ottoman Empire
control. In 1923, Rameh became the first village in Palestine
to receive self-governing status granted by the British Mandate and had the largest olive orchards in the area. It was granted permission to self-govern through a village council. It was captured by Haganah
forces in 1948, becoming a part of Israel, and later achieving local council status in 1954.
Local council (Israel)
Local councils are one of the three types of local government found in Israel, with the other two being cities and regional councils. As of 2003, there were 144 local councils in Israel, these being settlements which pass a minimum threshold enough to justify their operations as independent...
in the North District
North District (Israel)
The Northern District is one of Israel's six administrative districts. The Northern District has a land area of 4,478 km², which increases to 4,638 km² when both land and water are included...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is entirely populated by Arabs
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....
, of whom around 51% are Christian
Palestinian Christian
Palestinian Christians are Arabic-speaking Christians descended from the people of the geographical area of Palestine. Within Palestine, there are churches and believers from many Christian denominations, including Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic , Protestant, and others...
, 29% Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
, and a further 20% Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. The town is located five kilometers east of the cities of Shaghur and Karmiel
Karmiel
Karmiel is a city in northern Israel. Established in 1964 as a development town, Karmiel is located in the Beit HaKerem Valley which divides upper and lower Galilee. The city is located south of the Acre-Safed road, from Safed and from Acre...
.
History
Edward RobinsonEdward 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:...
identifies Rameh with the ancient Ramah of Asher (Joshua 19,29), citing its location and ancient sarcophagi discovered on a hill outside the village as evidence. Rameh was a major town during the rule of 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...
.
According to local tradition, the modern town of Rameh was founded in the 17th century. It was one of the largest villages in the Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
during the period of Ottoman Empire
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...
control. In 1923, Rameh became the first village in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
to receive self-governing status granted by the British Mandate and had the largest olive orchards in the area. It was granted permission to self-govern through a village council. It was captured by Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
forces in 1948, becoming a part of Israel, and later achieving local council status in 1954.
Persons associated with Rameh
- Mira AwadMira AwadMīrā ’Anwar ‘Awaḍ is an Israeli Arab singer, actress, and songwriter.‘Awaḍ lives in Tel Aviv, Israel. In 2009, she was chosen to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest along with Jewish-Israeli singer Achinoam Nini, singing the song There Must Be Another Way. She was the first Arab to...
- born in Rameh. - Angelina FaresAngelina FaresAngelina Fares is an Israeli beauty pageant contestant. She was a finalist in Miss Israel 2007.-Biography:Fares was born in the village of Rameh, the firstborn of her family and has six siblings. From the age of six she practiced artistic gymnastics...
- resident of Rameh. - Hanna MwaisHanna MwaisHanna Mwais was an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Hadash between 1977 and his death in 1981.-Biography:Born in Rameh during the Ottoman era, Mwais was educated at a high school in Acre and the Scottish School in Nazareth. In 1956 he became a member of Rameh's...
- head of the local council and member of the KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
. - Samih al-QasimSamih al-QasimSamīħ al-Qāsim Samīħ al-Qāsim Samīħ al-Qāsim ( is an Israeli Druze whose Arabic poetry is well-known throughout Arab World. His poetry is influenced by two primary periods of his life: Before and after the Six-Day War. He joined the Communist Hadash political party in 1967...
- resident of Rameh. - Archbishop Theodosios (Hanna) of SebastiaArchbishop Theodosios (Hanna) of SebastiaTheodosios of Sebastia is the Archbishop of Sebastia from the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Ordained on the 24 December 2005 at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, he is the second Palestinian to hold the position of Archbishop in the history of the diocese.Born Atallah Hanna in Rameh in the...
- born in Rameh. - Elias NakhlehElias NakhlehElias Nakhleh was an Israeli Arab politician who served as a member of the Knesset between 1959 and 1974.-Biography:Born in Rameh during the Ottoman era, Nakleh joined the British Army and served in Lebanon, returning to Israel in 1948....
- born in Rameh, former member of the KnessetKnessetThe Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
.