Nahf
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| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | Náḥep |
| • Also spelled | Nahef (official) Naḥf (unofficial) |
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  Nahf | |
| Coordinates:32°55′54″N35°19′11″E / 32.93167°N 35.31972°E /32.93167; 35.31972 | |
| Grid position | 179/260PAL |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,077dunams (6.077 km2; 2.346 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[1] | |
• Total | 13,818 |
| • Density | 2,274/km2 (5,889/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity | |
| • Arabs | 99.8% |
| • Jews and others | 0.2% |
Nahf (Arabic:نحف,Naḥf orNahef;Hebrew:נַחְף)[2] is anArabtown in the Northern District ofIsrael. It is located in between thelower andupper Galilee, about 23 kilometres (14 mi) east ofAcre. In 2023 it had a population of 13,818.[1] Archaeologists believe that the area was an important center for viticulture in the Hellenistic period and possibly the Early Bronze Age IB period (ca. 3100 BC).[3]
Remains have been found fromEarly Bronze IB, EB II,Middle Bronze Age II andIron Age II,[4][5] as well as coins from thePtolemaic dynasty andAntiochus III.[6] Tombs from the 2nd to the 4th centuries have been found.[7] Nahf containsPersian,Hellenistic andRoman remains.[4][6][5]
From archaeological finds, it is assumed that blown glass vessels were produced in the village during theByzantine era. A bath, containing ahypocaust from the same period has also been excavated. Dating from the late Byzantine era, it was in continuous use in the earlyUmayyad era.[8]
In theCrusader era it was known as "Nef."[9][10] In 1249John Aleman transferred land, including thecasalia ofBeit Jann,Sajur,Majd al-Krum and Nahf to theTeutonic Knights.[11][12]
Remains, including potsherds of bowls, plates and jars, all fromMamluk era, (fourteenth–fifteenth centuries CE), have been found in archaeological excavations.[13][5]
In 1517, the village was incorporated into theOttoman Empire with the rest ofPalestine, and in 1596,Nahaf appeared in Ottomantax registers as being innahiya (subdistrict) ofAkka, part ofSanjak Safad. It had a population of 108 households and 9 bachelors, allMuslims. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 25% on wheat, barley, summer crops, fruit trees, goats and/or beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 6,629akçe.[14]
A map from 1799 byPierre Jacotin showed the place, named as "Nafeh".[15] WhenVictor Guérin visited Nahf in 1875, he described the village as containing 400Muslims and someGreek Orthodox families,[16] while in 1881 Nahf was described as a village of 200 Muslims living in houses built of stone surrounded byolive groves and arable land.[17]
A population list from 1887 showed that Nahf had about 475 inhabitants; all Muslims.[18]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities, Nahf had a population of 818, 2Jews, 6Christians and 810Muslims.[19] where all the Christians wereOrthodox.[20] At the time of the1931 census the population had increased to 994, all Muslims, in 194 houses.[21]
In the1945 statistics the population of Nahf was 1,320, all Muslims,[22] who owned 15,745dunams of land according to an official land and population survey.[23] 1,088 dunams were plantations and irrigable land, 4,571 used for cereals,[22][24] while 44 dunams were built-up (urban) land.[22][25]
Nahf was captured by Israel on 18 July 1948 duringOperation Dekel led by the Sheva (Seventh) Brigade. Its defenders included the town's localmilitia as well asArab Liberation Army volunteers. The town was left intact and most residents did not flee their homes. According to Benny Morris, Israeli troops may have used undue force to compel residents to hand over weapons, which sparked an irate response from the military commander who said those who committed such acts would be prosecuted and punished.[26] The population remained underMartial Law until 1966.
In and around Nahf, there are a number ofarchaeological remains dating from theMiddle Ages, including mosaics and a cemetery. In a nearby location lies the shrines of Muslim leaders Sheik Muhammad Rabiah and Sheik Mahmud who fought against the Crusaders. The Auba cave, which dates from the time of theAssyrians, is also located here.[27]
In 2022, 99.9% of the population was Muslim and 0.1% was Christian.[28]
The largest medieval structure in the village is a roughly 10 meter long wall, made of large drafted blocks with a rubble core, which may be of Crusader origin.[9][29]
TheMaqam (shrine) of Shaykh Rabi is located on a steep hill above the village, surrounded by acemetery. It is adomedrectangular building, with an entrance from the east. A deepmihrab ("Islamic prayerniche") is located inside, in the middle of the south side. By the north wall is the elongatedcenotaph of Shaykh Rabi.[29]
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