Al-Safiriyya

Al-Safiriyya

السافريّة
Al-Safiriyya السافريّة
	Etymology: from a personal name
	1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay mapShow all A series of historical maps of the area around Al-Safiriyya (click the buttons)
	Al-Safiriyya Location within Mandatory Palestine
	Coordinates: 31°59′36″N 34°51′04″E / 31.99333°N 34.85111°ECoordinates: 31°59′36″N 34°51′04″E / 31.99333°N 34.85111°E
Palestine grid	135/155
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Jaffa
Date of depopulation	Not known
Area
• Total	12,842 dunams (12.842 km2 or 4.958 sq mi)
Population (1945)
• Total	3,070
Current Localities	Tzafria, Kfar Chabad, Ahi'ezer Sharir Shafrir (at the site of what is now Kfar Chabad) has been absorbed in the previous, and in the suburbs of Rishon LeZion

Al-Safiriyya was a Palestinian Arab village in the Jaffa Subdistrict. It was depopulated during Operation Hametz in the 1948 Palestine War on May 20, 1948.^[5] It was located 11 km east of Jaffa, 1.5 km west of Ben Gurion Airport.

History[]

Khirbat Subtara is one of the notable khirbat in the area.^[5]

al-Safiriyya was known to the Byzantines and Crusaders as Sapharea or Saphyria.^[5]^[7]

Hani Al-Kindi, an early Muslim scholar and acetic, was buried in Al-Safiriyya. The Umayyad caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (717– 720) had offered him the Governorship of Palestine, but Al-Kindi had declined it.^[5]

Ottoman era[]

Al-Safiriyya was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine, and in 1596 it appeared in the tax registers under the name of Safiriyya, as being in the nahiya ("subdistrict") of Ramla, which was under the administration of the liwa ("district") of Gaza. It had a population of 53 household;^[8] an estimated 292 persons, who were all Muslims. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 33,3 % on agricultural products, including wheat, barley, summer crops, sesame, vineyards, fruit trees, goats and beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 18,800 akçe. All of the revenue went to a Waqf.^[8]^[5]

In 1838 Safiriyeh was among the villages Edward Robinson noted from the top of the White Mosque, Ramla.^[9] It was further noted as a Muslim village, in the Lydda District.^[10]

In 1863 Victor Guérin found the village to have 450 inhabitants. He noted that the mosque was shaded by an old mulberry tree, and around the village were plantations of tobacco and watermelons.^[11]

An Ottoman village list from about 1870 showed that es-Safirije had 29 houses and a population of 134, though the population count included men only.^[12]^[13]

In 1882, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine described it as an adobe village, with olives to the south.^[14]

Nasra Hussein Ahmad Zayed, born Safiriyya 1913 CE. Pictured in 1934, wearing a wedding dress

British Mandate era[]

Al-Safiriyya 1929 1:20,000

Al-Safiriyya 1945 1:250,000

In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Safriyeh had a population of 1,306, all Muslims,^[15] increasing in the 1931 census to 2,040 inhabitants, still all Muslims, in 489 houses.^[16]

In the 1945 statistics it had a population of 3,070 Muslims,^[2] with 12,842 dunams of land.^[3] Of this, Arabs used 3,539 for growing citrus and banana, 3,708 for plantations and irrigable land, 3,032 for cereals,^[17] while 95 dunams were classified as built-up areas.^[18]

al-Safiriyya had two elementary schools, one for boys founded in 1920 which had an enrollment of 348 boys in 1945, and another school was for girls, founded in 1945 with 45 girls.^[5]

1948, aftermath[]

Benny Morris gives both date and time of depopulation as unknown.^[4] Aref al-Aref writes that Al-Safiriyya was occupied by the Yishuv in April, 1948, at the same time as Yazur and Bayt Dajan.^[19]

On September 13, 1948, Al-Safiriyya was one of 14 Palestinian villages that Ben-Gurion asked to be destroyed, in order to block the return of the villagers.^[20]

Tzafria, Kfar Chabad, , Ahi'ezer and the suburbs of Rishon LeZion today occupy Al-Safiriyya land.^[5]

In 1992 the village site was described: "The two schools – long concrete structures with rectangular doorways and windows – still stand and have been refurbished. A number of houses, some made of adobe bricks and others of concrete, also remain and are aither deserted or inhabited by Jewish families. They are architecturally simple and have rectangular doors and windows; most of their roofs are flat. Cactuses and a variety of trees line an old village road, and the site is generally dotted by sycamore and cypress trees. Parts of the surrounding land are covered by construction but some parts are cultivated by Israelis."^[21]

References[]

^ Palmer, 1881, p. 217
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 28
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 53
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Morris, 2004, p. xviii, village #220. Morris gives both cause and date of depopulation as "not known".
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Khalidi, 1992, p. 253
^ Morris, 2004, p. xxii, settlement #113
^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol. 3, p. 45
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 155
^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol. 3, p. 30
^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol. 3, 2 appendix, p. 121
^ Guérin, 1868, pp. 32, 319
^ Socin, 1879, p. 159
^ Hartmann, 1883, p. 138 found 115 (!) houses
^ Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p. 254
^ Barron, 1923, Table VII, Sub-district of Jaffa, p. 20
^ Mills, 1932, p. 15
^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 96
^ Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 146
^ al-Aref, cited in Khalidi, 1992, p. 253
^ Morris, 2004, p. 354
^ Khalidi, 1992, pp. 253-254

Bibliography[]

Barron, J.B., ed. (1923). Palestine: Report and General Abstracts of the Census of 1922. Government of Palestine.
Conder, C.R.; Kitchener, H.H. (1882). The Survey of Western Palestine: Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and Archaeology. 2. London: Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
Department of Statistics (1945). Village Statistics, April, 1945. Government of Palestine.
Guérin, V. (1868). Description Géographique Historique et Archéologique de la Palestine (in French). 1: Judee, pt. 1. Paris: L'Imprimerie Nationale.
Hadawi, S. (1970). Village Statistics of 1945: A Classification of Land and Area ownership in Palestine. Palestine Liberation Organization Research Center. Archived from the original on 2018-12-08. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
Hartmann, M. (1883). "Die Ortschaftenliste des Liwa Jerusalem in dem türkischen Staatskalender für Syrien auf das Jahr 1288 der Flucht (1871)". Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins. 6: 102–149.
Hütteroth, Wolf-Dieter; Abdulfattah, Kamal (1977). Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century. Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft. ISBN 3-920405-41-2.
Khalidi, W. (1992). All That Remains: The Palestinian Villages Occupied and Depopulated by Israel in 1948. Washington D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies. ISBN 0-88728-224-5.
Mills, E., ed. (1932). Census of Palestine 1931. Population of Villages, Towns and Administrative Areas. Jerusalem: Government of Palestine.
Morris, B. (2004). The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem Revisited. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-00967-6.
Palmer, E.H. (1881). The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer. Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.
Socin, A. (1879). "Alphabetisches Verzeichniss von Ortschaften des Paschalik Jerusalem". Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins. 2: 135–163.

External links[]

Welcome To al-Safiriyya
al-Safiriyya, Zochrot
Survey of Western Palestine, Map 13: IAA, Wikimedia commons

[1] Palmer, 1881, p. 217

[1945p28-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Department of Statistics, 1945, p. 28

[Hadawi53-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 53

[Morris-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Morris, 2004, p. xviii, village #220. Morris gives both cause and date of depopulation as "not known".

[Khalidi253-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l Khalidi, 1992, p. 253

[6] Morris, 2004, p. xxii, settlement #113

[7] Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol. 3, p. 45

[HA155-8] Jump up to: ^a ^b Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 155

[9] Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol. 3, p. 30

[10] Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol. 3, 2 appendix, p. 121

[11] Guérin, 1868, pp. 32, 319

[Socin-12] Socin, 1879, p. 159

[13] Hartmann, 1883, p. 138 found 115 (!) houses

[14] Conder and Kitchener, 1882, SWP II, p. 254

[Census1922-15] Barron, 1923, Table VII, Sub-district of Jaffa, p. 20

[Census1931-16] Mills, 1932, p. 15

[17] Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 96

[18] Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. 146

[19] -Aref, cited in Khalidi, 1992, p. 253

[20] Morris, 2004, p. 354

[21] Khalidi, 1992, pp. 253-254

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hide v t Palestinian Arab towns and villages depopulated during the 1948 Palestinian exodus by subdistrict
Acre Subdistrict	Amqa Arab al-Samniyya al-Bassa al-Birwa al-Damun Dayr al-Qassi al-Ghabisiyya Iqrit Iribbin Jiddin al-Kabri Kafr 'Inan Kuwaykat al-Manshiyya al-Mansura Mi'ar al-Nabi Rubin al-Nahr al-Ruways Suhmata al-Sumayriyya Suruh al-Tall Tarbikha Umm al-Faraj az-Zeeb
Beisan Subdistrict	Arab al-'Arida Arab al-Bawati Arab al-Safa al-Ashrafiyya al-Bira Beisan Danna Farwana al-Fatur al-Ghazzawiyya al-Hamidiyya al-Hamra Jabbul Kafra Kawkab al-Hawa al-Khunayzir Masil al-Jizl al-Murassas Qumya al-Sakhina al-Samiriyya Sirin Tall al-Shawk al-Taqa al-Tira Umm 'Ajra Khirbat Umm Sabuna Yubla Zab'a al-Zawiya
Beersheba Subdistrict	al-Imara al-Jammama al-Khalasa Auja al-Hafir
Gaza Subdistrict	Arab Suqrir Barbara Barqa al-Batani al-Gharbi al-Batani al-Sharqi Bayt 'Affa Bayt Daras Bayt Jirja Bayt Tima Bil'in Burayr Dayr Sunayd Dimra al-Faluja Hamama Hatta Hiribya Huj Hulayqat Ibdis Iraq al-Manshiyya Iraq Suwaydan Isdud al-Jaladiyya al-Jiyya Julis al-Jura Jusayr Karatiyya Kawfakha Kawkaba al-Khisas al-Masmiyya al-Kabira al-Masmiyya al-Saghira al-Muharraqa Najd Ni'ilya Qastina al-Sawafir al-Gharbiyya al-Sawafir al-Shamaliyya al-Sawafir al-Sharqiyya Simsim Summil Tall al-Turmus Yasur
Haifa Subdistrict	Abu Shusha Abu Zurayq Arab al-Fuqara Arab al-Nufay'at Arab Zahrat al-Dumayri 'Atlit Ayn Ghazal Ayn Hawd Balad al-Sheikh Barrat Qisarya Burayka al-Burj al-Butaymat Daliyat al-Rawha' al-Dumun al-Ghubayya al-Fawqa al-Ghubayya al-Tahta Hawsha Ijzim Jaba' al-Jalama Kabara al-Kafrayn Kafr Lam al-Kasayir Khubbayza Lid al-Manara al-Mansi al-Mansura al-Mazar Naghnaghiya Qannir Qira Qisarya Qumbaza al-Rihaniyya Sabbarin al-Sarafand Khirbat al-Sarkas Khirbat Sa'sa' al-Sawamir Khirbat al-Shuna al-Sindiyana al-Tantura al-Tira Umm ash Shauf Umm az-Zinat Wa'arat al-Sarris Wadi Ara Yajur
Hebron Subdistrict	'Ajjur Barqusya Bayt Jibrin Bayt Nattif al-Dawayima Deir al-Dubban Dayr Nakhkhas Kudna Mughallis al-Qubayba Ra'na Tell es-Safi Umm Burj az-Zakariyya Zayta Zikrin
Jaffa Subdistrict	al-'Abbasiyya Abu Kabir Abu Kishk Bayt Dajan Biyar 'Adas Fajja al-Haram Ijlil al-Qibliyya Ijlil al-Shamaliyya al-Jammasin al-Gharbi al-Jammasin al-Sharqi Jarisha Kafr 'Ana al-Khayriyya al-Mas'udiyya al-Mirr al-Muwaylih Rantiya al-Safiriyya Salama Saqiya al-Sawalima al-Shaykh Muwannis Yazur
Jenin Subdistrict	al-Jawfa al-Mazar Ayn al-Mansi Lajjun Nuris Zir'in
Jerusalem Subdistrict	Allar Aqqur Artuf Bayt 'Itab Bayt Mahsir Bayt Naqquba Bayt Thul Bayt Umm al-Mays al-Burayj Dayr Aban Dayr 'Amr Dayr al-Hawa Dayr Rafat Dayr al-Shaykh Deir Yassin Ayn Karim Ishwa Islin Ism Allah Jarash al-Jura Kasla al-Lawz Lifta al-Maliha Nitaf al-Qabu Qalunya al-Qastal Ras Abu 'Ammar Sar'a Saris Sataf Sheikh Badr Suba Sufla al-Tannur al-'Umur al-Walaja
Nazareth Subdistrict	al-Mujaydil Indur Ma'alul Saffuriyya
Ramle Subdistrict	Abu al-Fadl Abu Shusha Ajanjul Aqir Barfiliya al-Barriyya Bashshit Bayt Far Bayt Jiz Bayt Nabala Bayt Shanna Bayt Susin Bir Ma'in Bir Salim al-Burj al-Buwayra Daniyal Dayr Abu Salama Dayr Ayyub Dayr Muhaysin Dayr Tarif al-Duhayriyya al-Haditha Idnibba Innaba Jilya Jimzu Kharruba al-Khayma Khulda al-Kunayyisa al-Latrun Lydda al-Maghar Majdal Yaba al-Mansura al-Mukhayzin al-Muzayri'a al-Na'ani al-Nabi Rubin Qatra Qazaza al-Qubab al-Qubayba Qula Ramla Sajad Salbit Sarafand al-Amar Sarafand al-Kharab Saydun Shahma Shilta al-Tina al-Tira Umm Kalkha Wadi Hunayn Yibna Khirbat Zakariyya Zarnuqa
Safad Subdistrict	Abil al-Qamh al-'Abisiyya 'Akbara Alma Ammuqa Arab al-Shamalina Arab al-Zubayd Ayn al-Zaytun Baysamun Biriyya al-Butayha al-Buwayziyya Dallata al-Dawwara Dayshum al-Dirbashiyya al-Dirdara Fara al-Farradiyya Fir'im Ghabbatiyya Ghuraba al-Hamra' Harrawi Hunin al-Husayniyya Jahula al-Ja'una Jubb Yusuf Kafr Bir'im al-Khalisa Khan al-Duwayr Khirbat Karraza al-Khisas Khiyam al-Walid Kirad al-Baqqara Kirad al-Ghannama Lazzaza Madahil Al-Malkiyya Mallaha al-Manshiyya al-Mansura Mansurat al-Khayt Marus Meiron al-Muftakhira Mughr al-Khayt al-Muntar al-Nabi Yusha' al-Na'ima Qabba'a Qadas Qaddita Qaytiyya al-Qudayriyya al-Ras al-Ahmar Sabalan Safsaf Saliha al-Salihiyya al-Sammu'i al-Sanbariyya Sa'sa' al-Shawka al-Tahta al-Shuna Taytaba Tulayl al-'Ulmaniyya al-'Urayfiyya al-Wayziyya Yarda, Safad al-Zahiriyya al-Tahta al-Zanghariyya Zawiya al-Zuq al-Fawqani al-Zuq al-Tahtani
Tiberias Subdistrict	Awlam al-Dalhamiyya Ghuwayr Abu Shusha Hadatha al-Hamma Hittin Kafr Sabt Lubya Ma'dhar al-Majdal al-Manara al-Manshiyya al-Mansura Nasir al-Din Nimrin al-Nuqayb Samakh al-Samakiyya al-Samra al-Shajara al-Tabigha al-'Ubaydiyya Wadi Hamam Khirbat al-Wa'ra al-Sawda' Yaquq
Tulkarm Subdistrict	Khirbat Bayt Lid Bayyarat Hannun Fardisya Ghabat Kafr Sur al-Jalama Kafr Saba al-Majdal al-Manshiyya Miska Qaqun Raml Zayta Tabsur Umm Khalid Wadi al-Hawarith Wadi Qabbani al-Zabadida Khirbat Zalafa

Al-Safiriyya السافريّة
Etymology: from a personal name ^[1]
1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay mapShow all A series of historical maps of the area around Al-Safiriyya (click the buttons)
Al-Safiriyya Location within Mandatory Palestine
Coordinates: 31°59′36″N 34°51′04″E / 31.99333°N 34.85111°E / 31.99333; 34.85111Coordinates: 31°59′36″N 34°51′04″E / 31.99333°N 34.85111°E / 31.99333; 34.85111
Palestine grid	135/155
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Jaffa
Date of depopulation	Not known^[4]
Area ^[3]
• Total	12,842 dunams (12.842 km² or 4.958 sq mi)
Population (1945)
• Total	3,070^[2]^[3]
Current Localities	Tzafria,^[5] Kfar Chabad,^[5] Ahi'ezer^[5] ^[5] Sharir^[6] Shafrir (at the site of what is now Kfar Chabad) has been absorbed in the previous, and in the suburbs of Rishon LeZion^[5]