Metula מטולה | |
|---|---|
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • ISO 259 | Mṭulla |
| • Also spelled | Metulla (unofficial) |
 View of Metula | |
 Flag | |
  Metula  Metula | |
| Coordinates:33°16′44″N35°34′28″E / 33.27889°N 35.57444°E /33.27889; 35.57444 | |
| Country |  Israel |
| District | Northern |
| Subdistrict | Safed |
| Founded | 1896; 129 years ago (1896) |
| Government | |
| • Head of Municipality | David Azulai |
| Area | |
• Total | 9,413dunams (9.413 km2; 3.634 sq mi) |
| Population (2023)[1] | |
• Total | 2,152 |
| • Density | 228.6/km2 (592.1/sq mi) |
| Name meaning | "Belle vue"[2] |
| Website | www.metulla.muni.il |
Metula (Hebrew:מטולה) is atown in theNorthern District ofIsrael. It abuts theIsrael-Lebanon border, and had a population of 2,152 in 2023.
Metula is located near the sites of thebiblical cities ofDan,Abel Beth Maacah, andIjon.
A settlement existed in the area in theRoman andByzantine periods.[3][4] Ancient wine presses and a mosaic pavement have been found here.[5] A tomb excavated in 1967 contained at least four graves dating from between the late third century and the late sixth century.[5]
The origin of the town's name isArabic:المطلة,romanized: al-Muṭallah,lit. 'the lookout'.[6]In 1816 the notable travellerJames Silk Buckingham visited "a large village, calledMetully, altogether inhabited by Druzes".[7] In 1875,Victor Guérin described Methelleh orMetelleh as a village with a spring, occupied byDruzes from theHauran who cultivated a garden to the east.[8] Soon afterwards, in 1881, thePalestine Exploration Fund'sSurvey of Western Palestine recorded "El Mutallah: A small village, built of stone, containing about 100 Druzes, situated on slope of hill, near a large stream, surrounded by arable land."[9]
When the Druze rebellion of 1895 broke out the men of Mutallah joined its ranks. Since the women were not able to cope with the work, the owner of the land, a Christian fromSidon named Jabur Bey Riskalas (Greek Diplomat to Middle East), sold 12,800dunams of land toBaron de Rothschild's chief officer Joshua Ossovetski.[10][11][12] It had been inhabited and cultivated by more than 600Druze tenant farmers. When the Druze Rebellion was put down, the men returned and demanded their tenancy rights back.[11] Ossovetski called in the Turkish authorities, who came to arrest the Druse as deserters and rebels, while Ossovetski offered them compensation to leave the land.[11] Many were dissatisfied with the amount offered and eight years of feuds and violent clashes ensued.[11] Eventually an agreement was reached between the villagers and theJewish Colonization Association in 1904 for an additional payment of 60,000 francs (3,000 Turkish pounds).[10][11][13] This episode brought much criticism of the methods of Rothschild's agents, including some from other Zionists such asAhad Ha'am.[11][13][14] The Druze moved to other Druze-inhabited villages, includingIsfiya onMount Carmel.[15]
At the end ofWorld War I, Metula was in the area of Frenchmilitary occupation.[16] The British travellerNorman Bentwich wrote in 1919:
Metullah, the most northern outpost, is acquiring a new function as a summer resort for the rest of the country. Its mountain air and its splendid site, high up above a ravine, down which a stream dashes headlong to Jordan, makes it a chosen place in the dry days, and already its few homesteads are crowded in July and August. Metullah is a summer station for the hardy men and women of the colonies; it lies too far from the high road to attract the tourist, but in course of time it, or some other place in the highland region, will become for the Jewish dwellers of the lowlands what a number of hill stations in the Lebanon are already to the Syrians of the plains.[17]
The1920 boundary agreement between Britain and France stated that Metula was to be in Palestine, but it was not until 1924 that the change to British control was complete.[16] During the intervening years, the residents of Metula even took part in elections for theLebanese parliament.[16]
The bridge over Nahal Ayun was built by the British in the years 1943–44. On June 17, 1946 (Night of the bridges) all fourPalmach battalions (theHaganah elite units) captured and destroyed 11 border bridges. As a consequence, on June 29, 1946 ("Black Sabbath"), the British soldiers imprisoned manyYishuv leaders and Palmach members. The bridge was blown up again by the Palmach during theWar of Independence. It was repaired in the 1980s.[18]
In Israel, Metula is known as a wealthy town popular as a tourist destination, especially for schoolchildren on summer vacation.[19]
The Safari Disaster occurred during theSouth Lebanon conflict (1985–2000). On the afternoon of Sunday, March 10, 1985, a convoy ofIsrael Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers in "Safari" model trucks were driving from Metula towards the Lebanese town ofMarjayoun. Dozens of soldiers, having just attendedShabbat, were on their way back to duty. In accordance with regulations, one armed jeep in the forefront and two in the rear, and helmets and bullet-proof vests were worn.
As they were crossing the narrow bridge over Nahal Ayun at 13:45 a red Chevrolet pickup truck drove towards them. The soldiers of the first jeep noticed that the driver had friendly smile, and he was signaled to pull over to let the convoy pass. The first jeep and the first safari truck did so. At 13:50 the driver of the Chevrolet detonated a tremendous explosion which shattered windows in Metula itself. Twelve soldiers were killed and 14 wounded.[20]
During the2006 Lebanon War, Metula became a temporaryghost town when its populace fled Hezbollah rocket fire. It was hit by 120 rockets during the war.[19]
In the midst of theGaza war,Hezbollah attacked northern Israeli border communities with rockets and missiles, prompting the evacuation of several, including Metula. On October 17 2023, a Hezbollah anti-tank missile struck Metula, resulting in the injury of one civilian and two IDF reservists.[21] On 19 December, Hezbollah fired artillery shells at the town.[22]
On 30 September 2024, the IDF launched aground invasion intoSouthern Lebanon. On that same day, the IDF declared that Metula became a closed military area.[23] On 23 October 2024, 4 foreign workers and one Israeli were killed from a direct Hezbollah rocket strike, with several more seriously wounded.[24]
Metula lies in thenorthernmost point of Israel, next to theLebanese border and at 520 m above sea level.
Maps of the Geological Survey of Israel show that the area around Metula is primarily composed of sedimentary rock units from the Jurassic to Eocene periods. It is significantly impacted by faulting, particularly related to the Dead Sea Rift, which creates a complex geological structure.
According to Israel’s Meteorological Service, Metula is characterized by a warm-summer Mediterranean climate: Summers are typically very warm and dry, and winters are cool and wet. Rain periods generally occur from October through May, and the average annual rainfall is 800-900 mm (31-35 inches). Occasionally Metula experiences brief winter snows.
According to theIsrael Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), in September 2003 Metula had a population of 1,400, predominantlyJewish. Metula was declared a local council in 1949. Also according to the CBS, the population over the years was:
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