Aqqur عقور | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: barren[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Aqqur (click the buttons) | |
  Aqqur Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°45′30″N35°04′56″E / 31.75833°N 35.08222°E /31.75833; 35.08222 | |
| Palestine grid | 157/129 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Jerusalem |
| Date of depopulation | July 13–14, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,522dunams (5.522 km2; 2.132 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 40[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
Aqqur was aPalestinianArab hamlet in theJerusalem Subdistrict. Founded in theOttoman period, it had a population of 25 in 1922 and 40 in 1945.[5] It was depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli War on July 13, 1948, underOperation Dani. It was located 14.5 km west ofJerusalem on the Wadi Isma'il, a tributary of theWadi al-Sarar.
Aqqur is not mentioned in 16th century records, and was likely first settled in a later period.[5]
In 1838, in theOttoman era,Akur was noted as aMuslim village, in theel-Arkub district, southwest of Jerusalem.[6] In 1856 the village noted by the same name onKiepert's map of Palestine published that year.[7]
In 1863,Victor Guérin found here a village with 200 inhabitants. He further noted that several of the houses contained some stones from an oldchurch, then totally destroyed, but whose location still retained among the inhabitants the name ofKniseh (church). Awell, which passed for antiquity although it was badly constructed, was sufficient to all the needs of this small locality.[8]
An Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed that Aqqur had 38 houses and a population of 140, though the population count included men, only.[9][10]
In 1883, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine described Akur: "A small village on the ledge of the ridge, surrounded by very rugged ground. There is a good spring on the north east, about a mile from the village, on the same ridge."[11]
In 1896 the population of 'Akur was estimated to be about 132 persons.[12]
In the1922 census of Palestine, conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities, Aqur had a population 25, all Muslims,[13] while in the1931 census, it was counted withRas Abu 'Ammar andEin Hubin, and together they had a population of 488 Muslims, in 106 houses.[14]
A Britishanthropologist, writing in 1932, reported that there was a group ofSidr trees north east of the village believed to be protected by spirits.[15]
In the1945 statistics, it had a population of 40 Muslims,[2] with a total of 5,522dunums of land.[3] Of this, 174 dunams were used for irrigable land or plantations, 653 forcereals,[16] while 5 dunams were built-up land.[17]
'Aqqur had a maqam for a local sage known as al-Shaykh Ahmad Sulayman.[18]
The village was depopulated July 13–14, 1948[4] byHarel Brigade units. There had been fighting around the village since April, and many people had fled. Those who remained were expelled.[19][20]
