Kafr Qaddum
Encyclopedia
Kafr Qaddum is a Palestinian
town in the northern West Bank
, located 13 kilometers west of Nablus
and 17 kilometers east of Qalqilya in the Qalqilya Governorate
. Surrounding towns include Jit
to the east and Hajjah to the south. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
(PCBS), the town had a population of approximately 3,500 inhabitants in mid-year 2006.
Kafr Qaddum's total land area consists of nearly 19,000 dunam
s (about 8,000 under Palestinian civil administration and 11,000 under complete Israel
i control). Its built-up area consists of 529 dunams. Olive groves make-up 80% of the remaining land, 15% is used for vegetation purposes, 5% are planted crops.
Prior to the Second Intifada, about 50% of the Kafr Qaddum's economy depended on work in Israel
as the primary source of income, 20% depended on agriculture and animal raising, while 30% depended on jobs in private and public sectors. After 2002, over 75% of the population became jobless as business became the only other alternative for income generation. Emigration has registered a record level during the past two years ranging between 10-15 % of the total population.
Another theory is that the word "Qaddum" is a mispronounced "Qaddama" meaning "ahead" or "advanced".
On the other hand, it could come from the biblical Hebrew name Kedumim.
and Shlomi Zecharia of Yesh Din
, who represent the Palestinian landowners from Kafr Qaddum exposed the Israeli settler method of taking over Palestinian privately owned land. In the case of Mitzpe Yishai neighborhood of the Kedumim
where the West Bank Israeli settlement have expanded their jurisdictions by taking control of private Palestinian land and allocated it to Israeli settlers. The land takeover, which the Civil Administration calls "theft", occurred in an orderly manner, without any official authorization. Official records show the land as belonging to Palestinians from Kafr Qaddum.
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
town in the northern West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, located 13 kilometers west of Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
and 17 kilometers east of Qalqilya in the Qalqilya Governorate
Qalqilya Governorate
The Qalqilya Governorate is an administrative area of the Palestinian National Authority in the northwestern West Bank. Its capital or muhfaza is the city of Qalqilya that borders the Green Line.-Towns and villages:* Azzun 'Atma* Baqah...
. Surrounding towns include Jit
Jit
Jit is a style of popular Zimbabwean dance music. It features a swift rhythm played on drums and accompanied by a guitar. Jit evolved out many diverse influences, including domestic chimurenga, Congolese rumba and Tanzanian guitar styles...
to the east and Hajjah to the south. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is the statistical organization under the umbrella of the Palestinian Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority....
(PCBS), the town had a population of approximately 3,500 inhabitants in mid-year 2006.
Kafr Qaddum's total land area consists of nearly 19,000 dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s (about 8,000 under Palestinian civil administration and 11,000 under complete Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i control). Its built-up area consists of 529 dunams. Olive groves make-up 80% of the remaining land, 15% is used for vegetation purposes, 5% are planted crops.
Prior to the Second Intifada, about 50% of the Kafr Qaddum's economy depended on work in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as the primary source of income, 20% depended on agriculture and animal raising, while 30% depended on jobs in private and public sectors. After 2002, over 75% of the population became jobless as business became the only other alternative for income generation. Emigration has registered a record level during the past two years ranging between 10-15 % of the total population.
Etymology
Locals believe that the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was circumcised in the village using an axe (Qaddum) hence the name would mean "town of the Axe". To this day, there is a shrine in Kafr Qaddum called (the shrine of the Khalil), Khalil meaning friend, as the prophet Ibrahim was named the friend of Allah..Another theory is that the word "Qaddum" is a mispronounced "Qaddama" meaning "ahead" or "advanced".
On the other hand, it could come from the biblical Hebrew name Kedumim.
Land confiscation
Attorneys Michael SfardMichael Sfard
Michael Sfard, , is a lawyer specializing in international human rights law and the laws of war. He has served as counsel in numerous important cases on these topics in Israel. Sfard is identified with the left and has represented many left wing and Palestinian organizations at the Israeli Supreme...
and Shlomi Zecharia of Yesh Din
Yesh Din
Yesh Din is an Israeli human rights group providing legal assistance to citizens of the Palestinian territories. Its name comes from a Hebrew phrase meaning “there is law”...
, who represent the Palestinian landowners from Kafr Qaddum exposed the Israeli settler method of taking over Palestinian privately owned land. In the case of Mitzpe Yishai neighborhood of the Kedumim
Kedumim
Kedumim , also spelled Qedumim, is an Israeli settlement and a town located in the Samarian hills of the West Bank that was founded during Hanukkah 1975 and now enjoys the municipal status of local council. Founded in 1975 by members of the Gush Emunim settlement movement, its current population is...
where the West Bank Israeli settlement have expanded their jurisdictions by taking control of private Palestinian land and allocated it to Israeli settlers. The land takeover, which the Civil Administration calls "theft", occurred in an orderly manner, without any official authorization. Official records show the land as belonging to Palestinians from Kafr Qaddum.