Al-Jalama, Tulkarm
Encyclopedia
Al Jalama or Khirbat al Jalama was a Palestinian
Arab
village 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) north of Tulkarm
. Situated close to the eastern banks of a valley of the same name (Wadi
Jalama), it was inhabited during the Crusader and Mamluk periods, and again in Ottoman period by villagers from nearby Atlit. Its population was expelled by the Israeli military on 1 March 1950 after it fell under Israeli rule as a result of the 1949 armistice agreement that ended the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
, Khirbet al-Jalama was known as Gelenna. After the Mamluk
s took over, sultan Baybars apparently made a grant of the village land to three of his amirs in 1265.
At the end on the 19th century, the village was described as a small adobe
hamlet
, situated on the side of a knoll.
The modern village originated from farmland, belonging to the inhabitants of Attil
. The farmers settled on the land nearby, and in 1922 there were 29 villagers.
In 1945, Al Jalama had grown to a population of 70, mainly belonging to two extended families, the Nadaf and the Daqqa.
As the village was constructed on an old site, some archaeological remains were used for constructing houses. The houses were mainly constructed of stone or adobe
. In the 1930s and 1940s, some houses were constructed of cement
. The villagers, who were Muslim
, grew watermelons, oranges and other crops. A well, 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) east of the village, provided water for domestic needs.
.
During the period of clearing the borders of Palestinians, Israel emptied Al Jalama (now consisting of 225 people) on 1 March 1950. They were expelled by the military to the neighbouring village of Jatt, a move that Meron Benvenisti
called "unquestionably illegal". The villagers petitioned the Supreme Court of Israel
for permission to return, which was granted in June 1952. However, members from the kibbutz Lehavot Haviva
had settled on their land. On 11 August 1953, they blew up the remaining houses in Al-Jalama, thereby making sure that the Palestinian landowners could not return. The kibbutzniks claimed that the IDF
had ordered them to do this and had given them funds for that purpose. The IDF denied this. Israel then passed several retroactive laws that legalised the expropriation of the Al Jalama land.
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
village 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) north of Tulkarm
Tulkarm
Tulkarem or Tulkarm is a Palestinian city in the northern Samarian mountain range in the Tulkarm Governorate in the extreme northwestern West Bank adjacent to the Netanya and Haifa districts to the west, the Nablus and Jenin Districts to the east...
. Situated close to the eastern banks of a valley of the same name (Wadi
Wadi
Wadi is the Arabic term traditionally referring to a valley. In some cases, it may refer to a dry riverbed that contains water only during times of heavy rain or simply an intermittent stream.-Variant names:...
Jalama), it was inhabited during the Crusader and Mamluk periods, and again in Ottoman period by villagers from nearby Atlit. Its population was expelled by the Israeli military on 1 March 1950 after it fell under Israeli rule as a result of the 1949 armistice agreement that ended the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.
History
In the Crusader periodCrusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
, Khirbet al-Jalama was known as Gelenna. After the Mamluk
Mamluk
A Mamluk was a soldier of slave origin, who were predominantly Cumans/Kipchaks The "mamluk phenomenon", as David Ayalon dubbed the creation of the specific warrior...
s took over, sultan Baybars apparently made a grant of the village land to three of his amirs in 1265.
At the end on the 19th century, the village was described as a small adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
, situated on the side of a knoll.
The modern village originated from farmland, belonging to the inhabitants of Attil
Attil
Attil is a Palestinian town in the Tulkarm Governorate in the eastern West Bank, located 12 kilometers Northeast of Tulkarm. Attil is the connection point between the other villages and Tulkarm. It is bordered by Illar to the east; Baqa ash-Sharqiyya to the north; The Green Line to the west; and...
. The farmers settled on the land nearby, and in 1922 there were 29 villagers.
In 1945, Al Jalama had grown to a population of 70, mainly belonging to two extended families, the Nadaf and the Daqqa.
As the village was constructed on an old site, some archaeological remains were used for constructing houses. The houses were mainly constructed of stone or adobe
Adobe
Adobe is a natural building material made from sand, clay, water, and some kind of fibrous or organic material , which the builders shape into bricks using frames and dry in the sun. Adobe buildings are similar to cob and mudbrick buildings. Adobe structures are extremely durable, and account for...
. In the 1930s and 1940s, some houses were constructed of cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
. The villagers, who were Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, grew watermelons, oranges and other crops. A well, 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) east of the village, provided water for domestic needs.
1948, and aftermath
On the 3 April 1949, Al Jalama came under Israeli control with the signing of the Jordan–Israel Mixed Armistice Commission. According to Article VI, section 6 in this Armistice Agreement, the villagers were "protected in, their full rights of residence, property and freedom." However, the Israeli annexation of the villages made them subject to laws that had the purpose of stripping them of their land so that the land could then be given to Jewish settlements, and to eliminate the possibility of returnPalestinian right of return
The Palestinian right of return is a political position or principle asserting that Palestinian refugees, both first-generation refugees and their descendants, have a right to return, and a right to the property they or their forebears left or which they were forced to leave in what is now Israel...
.
During the period of clearing the borders of Palestinians, Israel emptied Al Jalama (now consisting of 225 people) on 1 March 1950. They were expelled by the military to the neighbouring village of Jatt, a move that Meron Benvenisti
Meron Benvenisti
Meron Benvenisti is an Israeli political scientist who was Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem under Teddy Kollek from 1971 to 1978, during which he administered East Jerusalem and served as Jerusalem's Chief Planning Officer. He is a medieval scholar and published books and maps on the Crusader period in...
called "unquestionably illegal". The villagers petitioned the Supreme Court of Israel
Supreme Court of Israel
The Supreme Court is at the head of the court system and highest judicial instance in Israel. The Supreme Court sits in Jerusalem.The area of its jurisdiction is all of Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories. A ruling of the Supreme Court is binding upon every court, other than the Supreme...
for permission to return, which was granted in June 1952. However, members from the kibbutz Lehavot Haviva
Lehavot Haviva
Lehavot Haviva is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the eastern Sharon plain near the Green Line, it falls under the jurisdiction of Menashe Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 264....
had settled on their land. On 11 August 1953, they blew up the remaining houses in Al-Jalama, thereby making sure that the Palestinian landowners could not return. The kibbutzniks claimed that the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
had ordered them to do this and had given them funds for that purpose. The IDF denied this. Israel then passed several retroactive laws that legalised the expropriation of the Al Jalama land.
External links
- Welcome To al-Jalama
- Al- Jalama at Khalil Sakakini Cultural CenterKhalil Sakakini Cultural CenterKhalil Sakakini Cultural Center is an organization established in 1996. It is located at 4 Raja Street, Ramallah in the West Bank. The traditional manor that houses the centre was the former family home of Khalil Salem Salah, the mayor of Ramallah between 1947/1951, is now owned by the Palestinian...