In this article we are going to delve into the fascinating world of Ma'dhar, exploring its various facets and delving into its importance and impact on our lives. Throughout history, Ma'dhar has played a fundamental role in society, influencing and shaping the way we live, think and relate to the world around us. Through an exhaustive and enriching analysis, we will examine the multiple dimensions of Ma'dhar, from its origins to its evolution today. Likewise, we will immerse ourselves in the different perspectives and opinions of experts on the subject, with the aim of offering a comprehensive and detailed vision about Ma'dhar and its relevance today. Without a doubt, this article will be a unique opportunity to delve into the exciting universe of Ma'dhar and understand its true meaning in our lives.
Ma'dhar | |
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Etymology: from personal name,[1] | |
A series of historical maps of the area around Ma'dhar (click the buttons) | |
Location within Mandatory Palestine | |
Coordinates: 32°41′35″N 35°27′51″E / 32.69306°N 35.46417°E | |
Palestine grid | 193/233 |
Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
Subdistrict | Tiberias |
Date of depopulation | April 6, 1948[4] |
Area | |
• Total | 11,666 dunams (11.666 km2 or 4.504 sq mi) |
Population (1945) | |
• Total | 480[2][3] |
Cause(s) of depopulation | Abandonment on Arab orders |
Current Localities | Kefar Qish[5] |
Ma'dhar was a Palestinian village in the Tiberias Subdistrict.
In the late 19th century, Ma'dhar was settled by Algerian migrants from Oued El Berdi and Bouïra under the Ottoman Empire.[6]
The village was depopulated during the 1947–1948 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine on May 12, 1948, by the Golani Brigade of Operation Gideon. It was located 12.5 km southwest of Tiberias.
Ceramics from the Byzantine era have been found here.[7]
The Crusaders referred to Ma'dhar as Kapharmater.[8]
Ma'dhar was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517, and by 1596, it was a village under the administration of the nahiya ("subdistrict") of Tiberias, part of Safad Sanjak. The village had a population of 17 households, an estimated 94 inhabitants, all Muslim. The villagers paid a fixed tax rate of 25% on wheat, barley, goats, beehives and orchards; a total of 2,000 Akçe.[9][10] A map from Napoleon's invasion of 1799 by Pierre Jacotin showed the place, named as Chara, but misplaced.[11]
In the late 19th century, Ma'dhar was one of several villages settled by Algerian migrants under the auspices of the Ottoman Empire. The settlers belonged to the tribe of Awlad Sidi Khaled and Sidi Amr, who migrated from Oued El Berdi and Bouïra, in Algeria.[6]
In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described the village as having about 250 Muslim residents, in a village made of basalt and other stone. Water was supplied from cisterns and springs.[12]
A population list from about 1887 showed Madher to have about 975 inhabitants; all Muslims.[13]
At the time of the 1922 census of Palestine, Madhar had a population of 347 Muslims,[14] increasing slightly to 359 Muslims living in 91 houses by the 1931 census.[15]
By the 1945 statistics, the village population was 480 Muslims,[2] and the total land area was 11,666 dunums of land.[3] 498 dunams were irrigated or used for orchards, 10,766 used for cereals,[16] while 63 dunams were built-up (urban) land.[17]
Ma'dhar had a school founded by the Ottomans, but closed during the British Mandate period. Ma'dhar contained a mosque and still has the ruins of a church, a burial ground, and ruined Crusader fortress called Casel de Cherio.[8]
In 1992, the village site was described: "The site has been fenced in and is used as an Israeli grazing area. A large cluster of cactus grows in the midst of the stone rubble of houses, and there is a well, capped with a pump, in the center of the site. About 20 m to the west of the well is a drinking trough for animals. Eucalyptus, doum palm, and chinaberry trees grow on the site."[5]