Sufla سفلى | |
|---|---|
| Etymology: the low ground[1] | |
.jpg) 1870s map.jpg) 1940s map.jpg) modern map.jpg) 1940s with modern overlay mapA series of historical maps of the area around Sufla (click the buttons) | |
  Sufla Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:31°44′5″N35°2′28″E / 31.73472°N 35.04111°E /31.73472; 35.04111 | |
| Palestine grid | 153/126 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Jerusalem |
| Date of depopulation | October 19, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,061 dunams (2.061 km2 or 509 acres) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 60[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
Sufla (Arabic:سفلى) was aPalestinian Arab village in theJerusalem Subdistrict. It was depopulated during the1948 Arab–Israeli War on October 19, 1948, by the Sixth Battalion of theHarel Brigade underOperation Ha-Har. It was located 18.5 km west ofJerusalem.
Remains from theCrusader era have been found here.[5]
In 1838, it was noted as aMuslim village,es-Sifala, in the el-Arkub District, south west ofJerusalem.[6]
In 1863Victor Guérin noted a large grotto, partly filled with water. According to Guérin, Sufla was "reduced to a dozen houses."[7]
An official Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed thatsafle had a total of 8 houses and a population of 18, though the population count included men only.[8][9]
In 1883, thePEF'sSurvey of Western Palestine (SWP) describedEs Sifleh as "a small village on a narrow ridge, which falls rapidly fromBeit 'Atab. On the south-east is a fine spring ('Ain Sitti Hasna) coming out of a cleft in the rocks."[10]
In the1922 census of Palestine conducted by theBritish Mandate authorities,Sufleh had a population of 46 inhabitants, allMuslims,[11] increasing slightly in the1931 census to a population of 49 inhabitants, in 10 houses.[12]
In the1945 statistics, the village had a population of 60 Muslims,[2] with a total of 2,061dunams of land according to an official land and population survey.[3] Of the land, 400 dunams were for cereals,[13] while 3 dunams were built-up (urban) land.[14]
A shrine was located in the village dedicated to a local sage called al-Shaykh Mu'annis.[5]
The village was depopulated in October, 1948, by theHarel Brigade underOperation Ha-Har, as were the villages ofDayr Aban,Bayt 'Itab,Beit Jimal,Bayt Nattif,Az-Zakariyya, andAl-Burayj.[15] Following the war, the area was incorporated into theState of Israel, although the land of Sufla was left undeveloped.[5]
In 1992, the village site was described as: "Stone rubble from houses is scattered throughout the site, which has become an open grazing area. Cave-like structures, formerly used as dwellings, also are present, and cactuses grow among the ruins and rubble. The village cemetery lies to the east of the site, and almond and olive groves cover the areas to the west and north."[5]
