Khirbat al-Sawamir | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: "Places of nocturnal entertainment"[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Khirbat al-Sawamir (click the buttons) | |
  Khirbat al-Sawamir Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:32°37′43″N34°57′30″E / 32.62861°N 34.95833°E /32.62861; 34.95833 | |
| Palestine grid | 146/226 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Haifa |
| Date of depopulation | May 22, 1948 |
| Population (1931) | |
• Total | 1,439 together withAyn Ghazal[2] |
| Current Localities | Ofer[3] |
Khirbat al-Sawamir was aPalestinian Arab village in theHaifa Subdistrict. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli War on May 22, 1948. It was located 22 kilometres south ofHaifa.
Burial places cut into rock, and ceramics from theByzantine era have been found at Khirbat al-Sawamir.[4]
Khirbat al-Sawamir was incorporated into theOttoman Empire in 1517 with all ofPalestine, and in 1596 it appeared in thetax registers under the name ofSawamir, as being in thenahiya ("subdistrict") ofRamla, which was under the administration of theliwa ("district") ofGaza. It had a population of 3 household,[5] an estimated 17 persons,[6] who were allMuslims. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25 % on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 5,500akçe.[5]
The village appeared, though misplaced, under the name ofSawama on the map thatPierre Jacotin compiled duringNapoleon's invasion of 1799.[7]
In 1859, the population was estimated to be 120 persons, with 15feddans of cultivated area.[8]
In 1882, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine describedSuamir as a smalladobe village at the edge of the plain, with awell to the west.[8]
In the early twentieth century, travelers noted that the village was better built that the usualFellahin village.[9]
In the1922 census of Palestine, conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Al Sawamer had a population of 17 Muslims.[10] In the1931 census, the population was counted with that ofAyn Ghazal, and together they had 1,439 Muslims in 247 houses.[2] In theVillage Statistics, 1945, the name of the village was not mentioned.
Following the 1948 war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel. The moshav ofOfer was established in 1950 partly on the land of Khirbat al-Sawamir, and partly on the land ofAyn Ghazal.[3]
In 1992 the village site was described: "The ruins of two walls (formerly parts of a building) are visible at the site, which has been fenced in with barbed wire. Pine trees occupy much of the land on the site, and pomegranate and fig trees and cactuses are scattered throughout. The surrounding coastal lands are used by Israeli farmers for growing vegetables and fruit, particularly bananas."[3]
