Fassuta
Encyclopedia
Fassuta is a Israeli Arab town on the northwestern slopes of Mount Meron in the Northern District
of Israel
, south of the Lebanese border.In 2005, the population of Fassuta was 2,900.
castle of Fassove, which was built on the ruins of Mifshata (Mafsheta), a Jewish village established after destruction of the Second Temple
in 70 CE.
In 1596, Fassuta appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Akka of the Liwa
of Safad. It had a population of 12 Muslim households and 3 Muslim bachelors. It paid taxes on wheat, barley, fruit trees, and goats or beehives.
In 1881, Conder and Kitchener described Fassuta as "a village, built of stone, containing about 200 Christians, situated on ridge, with gardens of figs, olives, and arable land. There are two cisterns in the village, and a good spring near."
Between 1922 and 1947, the population of Fassuta increased by 120%.In the 1931 census of Palestine
, the combined population of Fassuta and Mansura
had a population of 507 Palestinian Christians
and 81 Muslims living in 129 houses.
matriculation exam. In 2000, the mean income was NIS 3,748, compared to a national average of NIS 6,835.
. A large statue of Mar Elias stands in the central square.
and one smaller and lower down, in which the juice was received. In the humble church of the modern hamlet I remarked a chapter imitating Corinthian, and probably of Byzantine
period. On two of its faces a cross with equal branches has been sculptured. Above the door of the main church has been placed for a lintel a fragment of frieze decorated with
flowers and foliage elegantly executed."
North District (Israel)
The Northern District is one of Israel's six administrative districts. The Northern District has a land area of 4,478 km², which increases to 4,638 km² when both land and water are included...
of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, south of the Lebanese border.In 2005, the population of Fassuta was 2,900.
History
Fassuta was built on the ruins of the CrusaderCrusades
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...
castle of Fassove, which was built on the ruins of Mifshata (Mafsheta), a Jewish village established after destruction of the Second Temple
Second Temple
The Jewish Second Temple was an important shrine which stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 516 BCE and 70 CE. It replaced the First Temple which was destroyed in 586 BCE, when the Jewish nation was exiled to Babylon...
in 70 CE.
In 1596, Fassuta appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Akka of the Liwa
Liwa (arabic)
Liwa or Liwa is an Arabic term meaning district, banner, or flag, a type of administrative division. It was interchangeable with the Turkish term "Sanjak" in the time of the Ottoman Empire. After the fall of the empire, the term was used in the Arab countries formerly under Ottoman rule...
of Safad. It had a population of 12 Muslim households and 3 Muslim bachelors. It paid taxes on wheat, barley, fruit trees, and goats or beehives.
In 1881, Conder and Kitchener described Fassuta as "a village, built of stone, containing about 200 Christians, situated on ridge, with gardens of figs, olives, and arable land. There are two cisterns in the village, and a good spring near."
Between 1922 and 1947, the population of Fassuta increased by 120%.In the 1931 census of Palestine
1931 census of Palestine
The 1931 census of Palestine was the second census carried out by the authorities of the British Mandate of Palestine. It was carried out on 18 November 1931 under the direction of Major E. Mills. The first census had been conducted in 1922...
, the combined population of Fassuta and Mansura
Al-Mansura, Acre
al-Mansura was a Palestinian village that was captured by the Israel Defence Forces during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.-External links:** from the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center*, from Dr. Moslih Kanaaneh...
had a population of 507 Palestinian Christians
Palestinian Christians
Palestinian Christians are Arabic-speaking Christians descended from the people of the geographical area of Palestine. Within Palestine, there are churches and believers from many Christian denominations, including Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholic , Protestant, and others...
and 81 Muslims living in 129 houses.
Demographics
In 2005, the population of Fassuta was 2,900 residents, with an annual population growth rate of 0.9%. Most of the inhabitants are Christian Arabs. In 2000, 60.5% of Fassuta high school students passed the BagrutBagrut
Te'udat Bagrut is the official Israeli matriculation certificate. The bagrut is similar to the British A-levels, German Abitur, French Baccalauréat, and Austrian Matura...
matriculation exam. In 2000, the mean income was NIS 3,748, compared to a national average of NIS 6,835.
Religion and culture
In 2007, the Mar Elias Church in Fassuta celebrated its 100th anniversary. The church is named after Elias, the village's patron saintPatron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
. A large statue of Mar Elias stands in the central square.
Archaeology
In the 1870s, Guerin found traces of ancient ruins: "Numerous cisterns, a great reservoir, vestiges of many ruined houses, fine cut stones marking out floors, and a dozen of presses nearly perfect. These presses are all on the same model : worked in the rock, they consisted of two compartments, one larger, in which the grapes were placed,and one smaller and lower down, in which the juice was received. In the humble church of the modern hamlet I remarked a chapter imitating Corinthian, and probably of Byzantine
period. On two of its faces a cross with equal branches has been sculptured. Above the door of the main church has been placed for a lintel a fragment of frieze decorated with
flowers and foliage elegantly executed."