Yajur ياجور | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| 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 Yajur, Haifa (click the buttons) | |
  Yajur Location withinMandatory Palestine | |
| Coordinates:32°45′31″N35°03′26″E / 32.75861°N 35.05722°E /32.75861; 35.05722 | |
| Palestine grid | 155/240 |
| Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdistrict | Haifa |
| Date of depopulation | April 25, 1948[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,720 dunams (2.72 km2 or 1.05 sq mi) |
| Population (1945) | |
• Total | 610[2][3] |
| Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault byYishuv forces |
| Secondary cause | Influence of nearby town's fall |
| Current Localities | Yagur[5] |
Yajur (Arabic:ياجور,Yâjûr) was aPalestinian Arab village located 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) southeast ofHaifa. It was depopulated during the1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine on April 25, 1948.
Fragments of glass, and tombs withsarcophagi are located in the old village area today.[5]
Yajur was mentioned as part of the domain of theCrusaders during thehudna (truce) between the Crusaders based inAcre and theMamluk sultanAl Mansur Qalawun declared in 1283.[6]
In1799, it was noted on the map thatPierre Jacotin compiled that year, though it was misnamed asBeled el Charq (=Balad al-Sheikh).[7]
In 1872, theOttoman authorities sold land in Yajur to two Lebanese businessmen,Sursock and Salim al-Khuri.[8]
In 1875,Victor Guérin found the village to have about 200 inhabitants, and that it was surrounded by fig and olive trees.[9]
A population list from about 1887 showed that Yajur had about 150 inhabitants; all Muslims.[10]
In the early twentieth century the village, namedEl-Yadschur, was noted with 153 inhabitants. The village had amosque. It was also noted that the villagers no longer owned their land, as it was owned by aselim el-churi, who planned to start silk production in the village.[11]
In the1922 census of Palestine Yajur had a population of 202; allMuslims,[12] while in the1931 census it was counted withNesher; together they had 1,449 inhabitants; 554 Muslim, 26 Christians and 858 Jews, in addition to 11 with no religion, in a total of 291 houses.[13]
The area was acquired by the Jewish community as part of theSursock Purchase. The Lebanese landowners sold land in Yajur to the Zionists, who in turn established thekibbutz ofYagur in 1922 on what had traditionally been village land.[8]
The village population in the 1945 statistics was 610; 560 Muslims and 50 Christians,[2][3] with a total of 2,720dunams of land.[3] Of this, Arabs used 57 dunums of land for plantations and irrigable land, 261 forcereals,[14] while 18 dunams were classified as built-up land.[15]
Following the war the area was incorporated into theState of Israel. In 1992, the village site was described: "No traces of the houses remain on the site, which is marked by numerous fig trees and a smaller number of olive trees."[5] Kibbutz Yagur uses part of Yajur's former land for agriculture, with cement factories on another part.[5]
