Al-Na'ani النعاني en-Ni'aneh[1] | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: The plant "mint"[2] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Al-Na'ani (click the buttons) | |
  Al-Na'ani Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°52′20″N34°52′24″E / 31.87222°N 34.87333°E /31.87222; 34.87333 | |
| Palestine grid | 138/142 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Ramle |
| Date of depopulation | May 14, 1948[5] |
| Area | |
• Total | 9,768dunams (9.768 km2; 3.771 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 1,470[3][4] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Fear of being caught up in the fighting |
| Current Localities | Na'an,[6]Ramot Me'ir[6] |
Al-Na'ani, also calledAl-Ni'ana, was aPalestinian Arab village in theRamle Subdistrict ofMandatory Palestine. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab–Israeli War on May 14, 1948, by theGivati Brigade duringOperation Barak. It was located 6 km south ofRamle.
It likely experienced a decline, possibly even abandonment, before being resettled by Egyptians in the 19th century. Some of its residents migrated fromHebron andQazaza. It remained a small village throughout the 19th century.[7]
In 1838, it was noted as aMuslim village inEr-Ramleh district.[1]
AnOttoman village list from about 1870 counted 92 houses and a population of 265, though the population count included men, only.[8][9]
In 1882, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine described the place as: "A smallmud village on low ground, identified with Naamah (nearMakkedah), by CaptainWarren."[10]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Na'ani had a population of 1,004 inhabitants; 1,002Muslims[11] and 2 Orthodox Christians,[12] increasing in the1931 census to 1,142; 1,133 Muslims and 9 Christians, in a total of 300 houses.[13]
A Britishanthropologist, writing in 1932, reported that there was a group of "Sidr" trees (seeZiziphus spina-christi andSidrat al-Muntaha) south of the village believed to be protected by spirits.[14]
In the1945 statistics the village had a population of 1,470; 1,450 Muslims and 20 Christians[3] with a total of 9,768dunums of land.[4] Arabs used 335 dunums of land for plantations and irrigable land, 9,277 dunums for cereals,[15] while 51 dunams were classified as built-up public areas.[16]
The village had an elementary school which was founded in 1923, and by 1947 it had 208 students enrolled.[6]
The Jewish kibbutz ofNa'an was established in 1930, on a land purchased from Al-Na'ani. Kibbutz buildings are now on former Al-Na'ani land.[6]
Al-Na'ani became depopulated on May 14, 1948.[5]
In 1949Ramot Me'ir was established on village land, west of the village site.[6]
In 1992 the village site was described: "The site is overgrown with Christ-thorn and eucalyptus trees and a variety of wild plants. The main landmark, the railway station, is now deserted. The railway line itself is used by Israel and now extends south to Beersheba. Two deserted houses (including one belonging to Ahmad Jubayl) still remain, together with portions of houses utilized mainly for storing agricultural equipment. The land around the site is cultivated."[6]
The village was at the site of a historic Roman site of Tel Na'na' (Hebrew:תל נענע), where excavations have resulted in discovery of tombs and items dating to the Roman, Byzantine, and early Arab era.[17]
