I'billin
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|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | ʔiˁblin |
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  I'billin  I'billin | |
| Coordinates:32°49′21″N35°11′32″E / 32.82250°N 35.19222°E /32.82250; 35.19222 | |
| Grid position | 168/247PAL |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Area | |
• Total | 18,000dunams (18 km2; 6.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[1] | |
• Total | 13,555 |
| • Density | 750/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
I'billin (Arabic:إعبلين,Hebrew:אִעְבְּלִין)[2] is alocal council in theNorthern District ofIsrael, nearShefa-'Amr.[3] I'billin was granted municipal status in 1960. The municipality's area is 18,000dunams. In 2023 its population was 13,555, all of whom areArab Israelis with a mixed population ofMuslims andChristians.[4] In 2022, 58.2% of the population was Muslim and 41.8% was Christian.[5]
Archaeological excavations in the centre of the village has indicated a continuous inhabitation from the 9th century BCE during theIron Age, to the 14th century CE during theMamluk period.[6]
Archaeological evidence indicates that this was aJewish settlement in ancient times, and findings includeritual baths andhiding complexes used during theFirst Jewish–Roman War.[6] I'billin has been identified with the Jewish town of Evlayim or Abelim, which is attested in variousTalmudic sources from the third century CE.[6][7][8]
Asynagoguelintel dating between the 4th and 6th century CE was found in I'billin. It wasrepurposed as a step on the street leading to the village church and bears a text that translates as, "Remembered for the good is Baruch the Alexandrian(?) or son of Nehorai(?) who here supported (contributed) and made this gate. Amen. Peace."[8]
Nasir Khusraw visited the place in 1047 CE: "FromDamum we passed south to another village, called A'bilin, where there is the tomb ofHud - peace be upon him! - which I visited. Within the enclosure here is amulberry tree, and there is likewise the tomb of the prophetUzair - peace be upon him! - which I also visited."[9]
In 1760, a traveler between Acre and Nazareth noted "the castle of Abelin, on a beautiful eminence; and a town close to it", governed by Yusuf al-Umar, brother ofZahir al-Umar, the 18th-century ruler of the Galilee.[10] The castle, still extant, probably dates from the 18th century.[11] An Arabic inscription on the old villagemosque credits the construction of both the mosque and the remains of a fortification in the village to Yusuf al-Umar.[12]
In 1799, I'billin was marked 'Obellin' onJacotin's map surveyed duringNapoleon's invasion.[13]
TheBedouin strongman and tax farmer of theGalilee,Aqil Agha, used the fortress of I'billin, previously fortified by the family of Zahir al-Umar, as his headquarters.[14][15] There, in 1848, he metWilliam F. Lynch, head of the American expedition to theRiver Jordan, and made him their guide.[16] By 1852, Aqil ceased residing in I'billin, returning to his nomadic way of life.[14] He died in 1870 and was buried in the village, where some of his descendants were still living in the 1980s.[17]
The population in 1859 was stated by British consul Edward Thomas Rogers to have been 800 people, and the tillage fiftyfeddans.[12] In 1875, the French explorerVictor Guérin visited the village. He estimated the population at 600, divided equally between Muslims and Christians, the latter split between theMelkite (Greek Catholic) andGreek Orthodox denominations. He noted that the Greek Orthodox had a church dedicated to St. George.[18]
In 1881, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it as "A village on high ground with gardens beneath it on the south, and a spring ('Ain 'Afieh) about half a mile to the south. There is a minaret to the mosque which is a conspicuous object." According to the SWP, "The houses in the village are principally of stone;wells occur south of the hill, with olives near them. Some of the inhabitants are Greek Christians."[12] A population list from about 1887 showed that the village had about 745 inhabitants; 400 Greek Orthodox, 70 Melkites, 30 Latin Christians and 245 Muslims.[19]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities, I'billin had 528 Christians and 289 Muslims, a total population of 817.[20] Of the Christians, 410 were Orthodox, 111Melkite and 7 Anglican.[21] In the1931 census 'Arab El Hujeirat was counted together with I'billin, and the census found 663 Christians and 453 Muslims living in 192 houses.[22]
In the 1945 statistics the population of I'billin was 1,660; 1,060 Christians and 600 Muslims,[23] who owned 18,632dunams of land according to an official land and population survey.[24] 2,367 dunams were plantations and irrigable land, 8,628 used for cereals,[25] while 95 dunams were built-up (urban) land.[26]
I'billin was captured by the Israeli army during the first phase ofOperation Dekel, 8–14 July 1948.[27] Most of the Muslim population was expelled and replaced by Christians from neighbouring villages.[28] The town was regularly searched for people who were not registered in the November 1948 census. On 8 January 1949 villagers from I'billin were amongst a group of 128 men, women and children, who were expelled to theWest Bank at'Ara.[29] The town remained undermartial law until 1966.
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The village is of special importance to Catholics as the birthplace ofMariam Baouardy or Bawardi (1846-1878), who wasbeatified byPope John Paul II in 1983[30] and canonized byPope Francis in 2015.[31] Saint Mariam Bawardi is considered as one of the two first Palestinian saints, the other beingMarie-Alphonsine Danil Ghattas.
In 1965 AbunaElias Chacour, anArab Christian fromKafr Bir'im, laterArchbishop ofGalilee, established a school open to all local children, regardless of religious affiliation. This developed into theMar Elias Educational Institutions, an educational complex consisting of a kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, high school. And formerly used to include a college and a university. The educational complex is located on Jabal al-Ghoul (Hill of Demons), on property belonging to theMelkite Church. The hill has been renamed Jabal al-Nour (Hill of Light).[32]
"Mar Elias University" was established in 2003, claiming to be the first Arab university in Israel, though it is not officially holding a University status. It is recognized by the Council for Higher Education in Israel as a campus and operates as a branch of theUniversity of Indianapolis in the United States.[32] But the Israeli government ordered its closure hence it was turned into Mar Elias High School, part of theMar Elias Educational Institutions.
Ibillin historically depended on agriculture, especially the growth of sheets and vegetables (most notably cucumbers). Ibillin is also one of only municipalities in Israel that are allowed to raise pigs and to house pig farms on its land[33] and it exports to multiple Arab Christian and Russian restaurants and factories all throughout Israel who sellpork products (most notably the Russian "Marcel Brothers - אחים מרסל" company based inHaifa).
Notable businesses in Ibillin:
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