Sanniriya
Encyclopedia
Sanniriya is a Palestinian
town in the Qalqilya Governorate
in the western area of the West Bank
, located south of Qalqilya and 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) southwest of Nablus
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
, the village had a population of approximately 2,780 inhabitants in 2007.
, who is buried in the village. Because of his tomb which is venerated by the local inhabitants, religious festivals were held in the village and the old mosque
was built adjacent to it also in the 14th century. The prominent clans of the immediate area today—Sheikh, Omar, Ahmad, and Younis—are descendants of as-Saniri. The Abu Hadgi clan migrated to Sanniriya from Deir Istiya
.
The Ahmad and Omar clans began to began to work the fields west of the village where the land was suitable for agriculture in the 1930s. However, in the 1950s, in order to avoid continuous long-distance travels, the Ahmad and Omar clans established the villages of Azzun Atma
and Beit Amin
, respectively. Because of the migration of the two clans, Younis and Sheikh became the dominant families of Sanniriya. Initially, at the beginning of Jordan
ian rule in the 1950s, water for domestic use was obtained from the nearby Wadi al-Qana. After receiving funds from residents living in the Persian Gulf States
, the village economy substantially improved which included a boost in agricultural production, leading to the export of oranges and other products to the Gulf States. Increased income in the village allowed for the inhabitants to dig the first public well in Sanniriya in 1964.
Sanniriya was not involved in the 1967 Six-Day War
between Israel
and a coalition of Arab states which ended in the occupation of the village as well as all of the West Bank
by the former. However, in 1969, several residents participated in a battle against Israeli forces in the Jordan Valley
. Between the late 1970s to 2000, the Israeli settlement
s of Etz Efraim
and Elkana
were built on Sanniriya's lands. During the First Intifada
that began in 1987, a number of residents were imprisoned for participation in the uprising and two homes were demolished. As a result of the Second Intifada, the West Bank barrier was constructed near Sanniriya.
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...
town 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...
in the western area of the 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 south of Qalqilya and 36 kilometres (22.4 mi) southwest 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...
. 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....
, the village had a population of approximately 2,780 inhabitants in 2007.
History
Sanniriya was founded in the 14th century by Issa as-Saniri, a holy man from SyriaSyria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, who is buried in the village. Because of his tomb which is venerated by the local inhabitants, religious festivals were held in the village and the old mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
was built adjacent to it also in the 14th century. The prominent clans of the immediate area today—Sheikh, Omar, Ahmad, and Younis—are descendants of as-Saniri. The Abu Hadgi clan migrated to Sanniriya from Deir Istiya
Deir Istiya
Deir Istiya is a Palestinian town of 3,106 located in the Salfit Governorate in the northern West Bank, southwest of Nablus and east of Salfit...
.
The Ahmad and Omar clans began to began to work the fields west of the village where the land was suitable for agriculture in the 1930s. However, in the 1950s, in order to avoid continuous long-distance travels, the Ahmad and Omar clans established the villages of Azzun Atma
Azzun Atma
'Azzun 'Atma is a Palestinian village in the Qalqilya Governorate in the eastern West Bank, located 5 kilometers South-east of Qalqilya. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, 'Azzun 'Atma had a population of approximately 1,670 inhabitants in mid-year 2006. 3.9% of the...
and Beit Amin
Beit Amin
Beit Amin is a Palestinian town in the Qalqilya Governorate in the eastern West Bank, located south of Qalqilya. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of approximately 1,147 inhabitants in 2006....
, respectively. Because of the migration of the two clans, Younis and Sheikh became the dominant families of Sanniriya. Initially, at the beginning of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian rule in the 1950s, water for domestic use was obtained from the nearby Wadi al-Qana. After receiving funds from residents living in the Persian Gulf States
Persian Gulf States
Persian Gulf States can refer to:* Countries in the Middle East bordering the Persian Gulf and sometimes known as the Gulf States: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates....
, the village economy substantially improved which included a boost in agricultural production, leading to the export of oranges and other products to the Gulf States. Increased income in the village allowed for the inhabitants to dig the first public well in Sanniriya in 1964.
Sanniriya was not involved in the 1967 Six-Day War
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
between Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and a coalition of Arab states which ended in the occupation of the village as well as all of the 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...
by the former. However, in 1969, several residents participated in a battle against Israeli forces in the Jordan Valley
Jordan Valley (Middle East)
The Jordan Valley forms part of the larger Jordan Rift Valley. It is 120 kilometers long and 15 kilometers wide, where it runs from Lake Tiberias in the north to northern Dead Sea in the south. It runs for an additional 155 kilometer south of the Dead Sea to Aqaba, an area also known as Wadi...
. Between the late 1970s to 2000, the Israeli settlement
Israeli settlement
An Israeli settlement is a Jewish civilian community built on land that was captured by Israel from Jordan, Egypt, and Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War and is considered occupied territory by the international community. Such settlements currently exist in the West Bank...
s of Etz Efraim
Etz Efraim
Etz Efraim is an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located between Ariel and Rosh HaAyin, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shomron Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 679....
and Elkana
Elkana
Elkana or Elqana is an Israeli settlement and local council in the north-western Samarian hills in the West Bank. Elkana is situated just to the east of the Green Line and the city of Rosh HaAyin. The Trans-Samarian Highway previously cut through the town until 2000 when the road, which now skirts...
were built on Sanniriya's lands. During the First Intifada
First Intifada
The First Intifada was a Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories. The uprising began in the Jabalia refugee camp and quickly spread throughout Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem....
that began in 1987, a number of residents were imprisoned for participation in the uprising and two homes were demolished. As a result of the Second Intifada, the West Bank barrier was constructed near Sanniriya.