Arab al-Shamalina عرب الشمالنة | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: Kh. Abu Zeineh, the ruin of Abu Zeineh, p.n.[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Arab al-Shamalina (click the buttons) | |
  Arab al-Shamalina Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:32°54′26″N35°36′08″E / 32.90722°N 35.60222°E /32.90722; 35.60222 | |
| Palestine grid | 205/256 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Safad |
| Date of depopulation | May 4, 1948[4] |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 650[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Secondary cause | Expulsion byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | Almagor[5] |
Arab al-Shamalina (Arabic:عرب الشمالنة) also known asKhirbat Abu Zayna was aPalestinianArab village in theSafad Subdistrict. It was depopulated during the1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine on May 4, 1948, underOperation Matate (Broom), a sub operation ofOperation Yiftach. It was located 13 km southeast ofSafad near theJordan River.
In 1945 it had a population of 650.
The village was located north ofLake Tiberias, west of the Jordan River.[6] The villagers were members of the ‘Arab al-Shamalina Bedouin tribe and several archaeological sites have been found in the vicinity.[6]
In 1875,Victor Guérin found here the foundations of a building with walls one metre in thickness.[7]
In 1881, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine (SWP) noted: "Modern Arab granaries and slight traces of modern ruined houses" atKh. Abu Zeineh, orShunet esh Shemalneh.[8]
In the1922 census of Palestine, conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Shamalneh had a population of 278, all Muslims,[9] increasing in the1931 census to 551; 1 Christian and 555 Muslims, in a total of 108 houses.[10]
In the1944/45 statistic the village was counted withAl-Butayha, and together they had a total 16,690dunums of land.[2] Of this, 3,842 dunums was allocated to cereals, 238 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards,[11] while 12,610 dunams were classified as non-cultivable land.[12] Several springs in the area provided water.[6]
UnderOperation Matateh (lit.Operation Broom), a sub operation ofOperation Yiftach, the village, along with others between Lake al-Hula and Lake Tiberias was depopulated by Israeli forces on 4 May 1948. Israeli historianBenny Morris has documented that the troops were given specific orders to attack the village and destroy it. The attack commenced with Palmach troops bombarding the area, causing the villagers to flee.[6][13]
The settlement ofAlmagor was established 2 km northwest of the village site in 1961.[5]
In 1992 the village site was described: "The site, which is mostly covered with thorny grass, is strewn with the rubble of houses. Eucalyptus and palm trees also grow on the site. Most of the surrounding land is used as pasture, although some of it is cultivated."[5]
