Kasla كسلا | |
|---|---|
 Kasla was located on the top of the hill | |
| Etymology: from personal name[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Kasla, Jerusalem (click the buttons) | |
  Kasla Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°46′52″N35°03′04″E / 31.78111°N 35.05111°E /31.78111; 35.05111 | |
| Palestine grid | 154/132 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Jerusalem |
| Date of depopulation | July 17–18, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 8,004dunams (8.004 km2; 3.090 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 280[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Current Localities | Ramat Raziel,[5]Ksalon[5] |
Kasla (Arabic:کسلا) orKesla was aPalestinian village in theJerusalem Subdistrict. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab–Israeli War on July 17, 1948, by theHarel Brigade ofOperation Dani. It was located 17 km west ofJerusalem.
Kasla has been identified with the ancientCanaanite settlement ofChesalon,[6] and is believed topreserve its ancient name.[7][8] Chesalon is mentioned in theBook of Joshua as one of the landmarks on the boundary ofTribe of Judah.[9][10][11] During theRoman period, Chesalon was a Jewish settlement; it was mentioned in a document found inWadi Murabba'at and dated to 55/6 CE.[12][13] Remains from the Roman era has been found in a cave by the village.[12] It is unknown whether it continued to exist in the aftermath of theFirst Jewish-Roman War and up to theBar Kohkva Revolt.[12]
Ancientashlar stones have been found at Kasla,[14] and the village had severalkhirbas, including a shrine for a local sage known as al-Shaykh Ahmad.[5]
In the early 4th centuryOnomasticon,Eusebius describedChasalon as a large village in the territory ofAelia.[15]
Kasla was incorporated into theOttoman Empire in 1517 with all ofPalestine, and in 1596 it appeared in thetax registers under the name ofKisli, orKisla, as being in thenahiya ("subdistrict") ofRamla, which was under the administration ofGaza Sanjak. It had a population of 11 household;[16] an estimated 61 persons,[6] who were allMuslims. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 25% on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, fruit trees, sesame, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 1,280akçe. All of the revenue went to awaqf.[16]
In 1838,Kesla was noted as a Muslim village in theel-Arkub district, southwest of Jerusalem.[17][18]
In 1863Victor Guérin described it a being situated on a ridge,[19] while an Ottoman village list of about 1870 showedKesla with a population of 83, in 29 houses, though the population count included men only. It was also noted that to was located 3 1/2 to 4 hours west ofJerusalem.[20][21]
In 1883, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine describedKesla as "a small stone village in a conspicuous position on the top of a rugged ridge, with a deep valley to the north. There is a spring to the east, and two more in a valley to the south. This is the site of Chesalon."[22]
In 1896 the population of Kesla was estimated to be about 207 persons.[23]
By the beginning of the 20th century, residents from Kasla settledBayt Jiz nearal-Ramla, establishing it as a dependency – or satellite village – of their home village.[24]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Kasala had a population of 233 Muslims,[25] increasing in the1931 census to 299 Muslims, in 72 houses.[26]
In the1945 statistics, the village had a population of 280 Muslims,[2] while the total land area was 8,004dunams, according to an official land and population survey.[3] Of this, 440 were used for plantations and irrigable land, 2,265 for cereals,[27] while 10 dunams were classified as built-up areas.[28]
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Kasla, 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.[29]
Israel established twomoshavs on Kasla's land: in 1948,Ramat Raziel; while in 1952Ksalon was founded 1 km south of the village site, on the archeological site namedKhirbat Sa'ra.[5]
In 1992 the village site was described: "Wild grass covers the entire site and grows amid the rubble of the stone houses, which is difficult to distinguish from the rubble of ruined terraces. Almond trees grow on top of the mountain and cactuses grow along the site’s southern slopes. Northeast of the village, two carob trees are surrounded by the remains of a vineyards. On the slopes, thick wild grass grows on several terraces, which are still intact."[5]
Chesalon (Kasla, G.R. 154132)
