Maghar, Israel
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| Maghar | ||
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| Hebrew | מע'אר | |
| Arabic | المغار | |
| Name meaning | Cave | |
| Government | Local council (from 1956) | |
| Also spelled | Mughar (officially)
Mrar, Mghar (unofficially) |
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| District | North | |
| Population | 18,700 (2005) | |
| Jurisdiction | 19,810 dunams (19.8 km²) | |
Maghar (Arabic: مغارِ, Hebrew: מע'אר or מגאר, also spelled as Mrar or Mghar; lit. cave) is a multi-ethnic local council in Israel's North District with an area of 19 810 dunams. The town, which achieved local council status in 1956, had a population of 18,700 as of 2005 according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.
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[edit] History
Maghar is a very old settlement, originally named "Zar" during the Roman period. It was two-thirds Druze and one third Christian and Sunni Muslim until 1852. While the town lacks many antiquities, many olive and grape presses testify to a long history of agriculture in the area, in addition to the numerous hillside caves showing signs of ancient habitation for which the town is named.
[edit] 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, two residents were killed and several were wounded as a result of Hezbollah rocket and cluster bomb attacks.[1][2]
On July 25, a 15 years old girl called Da'aa Abbas was killed from a rocket impact at approximately 14:00 when one of the rockets penetrated through the roof of the Abbas family home and through the living room wall. Da'aa was killed immediately, while the rest of the family had minor wounds and had been evacuated to the Poriya Hospital in Tiberias.
On August 4, 27 year old woman Manal Azzam was killed from shrapnels of a Hezbollah cluster rocket. Azzam was in her apartment's corridor which was used by her and her children as a safe room.[3] Manal Azzam was related to Azzam Azzam.
[edit] Demography
The town of Maghar is unique for its diverse makeup of Druze and Arab Christians. It is known for being the home of many current and reserve Druze IDF and Israel Police officers, and has recently seen construction of a new neighbourhood for demobilized soldiers. Many of the Druze find themselves at an economic disadvantage compared to their Christian and Muslim neighbours, who are not subject to compulsory military service.
[edit] Inter-ethnic strife
February 2005 saw tensions in this multi-ethnic town surface after rumours that Christians had uploaded pornographic pictures of Druze girls led to thousands of Druze youth marching on Christian neighbourhoods, torching their cars and shops, and causing a temporary flight of many of the town's Christian families. A subsequent police investigation proved the rumors false and attributed them to a 16 year old Druze boy who had lied to his friends after receiving derogatory remarks about Druze from an unidentified man he was communicating via email.[4]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Kalman, Matthew. "In Israel: Arabs are among the dead and wounded in Hezbollah rocket attacks", Casualties of War: Families, San Francisco Chronicle, 2006-08-05. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
- ^ Lebanon/Israel: Hezbollah Hit Israel with Cluster Munitions During Conflict. Human Rights Watch. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
- ^ Einav, Hagai. "3 killed in rocket attacks on north", Ynetnews, 2006-08-04. Retrieved on 2008-05-16.
- ^ Khoury, Jack. "Police: Maghar riots sparked by teen spreading false rumor", Haaretz, 2005-02-14.
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