Nahf

Nahf
Other transcription(s)
• Arabic	نحف
• Also spelled	Nahef (official) Naḥf (unofficial)
• Hebrew	נַחְף‎
250px
Nahf Location of Nahf within the Palestinian Territories
Coordinates:
Palestine grid	179/260
Area
• Jurisdiction	6,077 dunams (6.077 km2 or 2.346 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Jurisdiction	7,800

Nahf (Arabic: نحف‎‎, Naḥf or Nahef; Hebrew: נַחְף‎) is an Arab town in the North District Israel. It is located in between the Lower and Upper Galilee, about 23 kilometres (14 mi) east of Acre. In 2011, the town had a population of 7,800.

History

The village is of considerable age, and tombs from the 2nd to the 4th centuries have been found. Nahf contains Roman and medieval remains.

From archeological finds, it is assumed that blown glass vessels were produced in the village during the Byzantine era. A bath, containing a hypocaust from the same period has also been excavated. Dating from the late Byzantine era, and was in continued use in the early Umayyad era.

In the Crusader era it was known as "Nef". In 1249 John Aleman transferred land, including the Casales of Beit Jann, Sajur, Majd al-Krum and Nahf to the Teutonic Knights.

Ottoman era

In 1517, the village was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire with the rest of Palestine, and in 1596, Nahaf appeared in Ottoman tax registers as being in nahiya (subdistrict) of Akka under the liwa' (district) of Safad. It had a population of 108 households and 9 bachelors, all Muslims. They paid taxes on wheat, barley, summer crops, fruit trees, occasional revenues, and goats and/or beehives.

A map from 1799 by Pierre Jacotin showed the place, named as "Nafeh". When Victor Guérin visited Nahf in 1875, he described the village as containing 400 Muslims and some Greek Orthodox families, while in 1881 Nahf was described as being built of stone, containing 200 Muslims, with olives and arable land.

British Mandate era

In a census conducted in 1922 by the British Mandate authorities, Nahf had a population of 818, 2 Jews, 6 Christians and 810 Muslims. All the Christians were Orthodox. At the time of the 1931 census the population had increased to 994, all Muslims, in 194 houses.

In 1945 the population of Nahf was 1,320, all Arabs, who owned 15,745 dunams of land according to an official land and population survey. 1,088 dunams were plantations and irrigable land, 4,571 used for cereals, while 44 dunams were built-up (urban) land.

1948 and aftermath

Nahf was captured by Israel on 18 July 1948 during Operation Dekel led by the Sheva (Seventh) Brigade. Its defenders included the town's local militia as well as Arab Liberation Army volunteers. The town was left intact and most residents did not flee their homes. The population remained under Martial Law until 1966.

In and around Nahf, there are a number of archaeological remains dating from the Middle Ages, including mosaics and a cemetery. In a nearby location lies the shrines of Muslim leaders Sheik Muhammad Rabiah and Sheik Mahmud who fought against the Crusaders. The Auba cave, which dates from the time of the Assyrians is also located here.

Notable structures

The largest medieval structure in the village is a roughly 10 meter long wall, made of large drafted blocks with a rubble core, which may be of Crusader origin.

The Maqam ("Saintly-person shrine") of Shaykh Rabi is located on a steep hill above the village, surrounded by a cemetery. It is a domed rectangular building, with an entrance from the east. A deep mihrab ("Islamic prayer niche") is located inside, in the middle of the south side. By the north wall is the elongated cenotaph of Shaykh Rabi.

See also

• Arab localities in Israel

Bibliography

• Cited in Petersen, 2001

External links

• Welcome To Nahf
• Survey of Western Palestine, Map 4: IAA, Wikimedia commons