Islin عسلين | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: Honey[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Islin (click the buttons) | |
  Islin Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°47′05″N35°00′23″E / 31.78472°N 35.00639°E /31.78472; 35.00639 | |
| Palestine grid | 150/132 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Jerusalem |
| Date of depopulation | 18 July 1948[4] |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 260[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | Eshtaol[5] |
Islin (Arabic:عسلين) was aPalestinian Arab village located 21 kilometers west ofJerusalem. The village had a population of 302 inhabitants and was depopulated during the1948 Arab-Israeli war.[6] It was occupied byIsraeli forces, possibly from the Fourth Battalion of the Harel Brigade, on 18 July 1948 duringOperation Dani, causing its inhabitants to leave.[6]Eshtaol, a moshav, was built on the village's land.
In 1596, Islin appeared asIslit inOttomantax registers as being in theNahiya of Ramla of theLiwa of Jaffa. It had a population of 14Muslim households, an estimated 77 people, who paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, and goats or beehives; a total of 4,700akçe.[7]
In the later 1870s the place was uninhabited, with ruins of a village still visible, and with aMukam.[8] It was probably re-established at the beginning of the century.[6]
In the1922 census of Palestine, conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities, Islin had a population 132, all Muslims,[9] increasing in the1931 census to 186; in a total of 40 houses.[10]
In the1945 statistics the population was 260, all Muslims,[2] while the total land area was 2,159dunams, according to an official land and population survey.[3] Of this, 104 were allocated for plantations and irrigable land, 830 for cereals,[11] while 20 dunams were classified as built-up areas.[12]
Islin, along with four other villages, were overtaken by the IsraeliHarel Brigade on 17–18 July 1948 inOperation Dani. The villages had been on the front line since April 1948 and most of the inhabitants of these villages had already left the area. Many of those who stayed fled when Israeli forces attacked and the few who remained at each village were expelled.[13]
.png)
Of the site in 1992,Walid Khalidi writes:
"Partially destroyed walls and stone terraces can be seen throughout the site. A thick forest, bushes, and grass grow over and around the stone rubble. Manycarob trees and someolive trees grow on the northern edge of the site, andeucalyptus andfir trees grow in the south. The site also houses a bus repair yard belonging to theIsraeli public transportation cooperative,Egged."[6]
