Sabalan, Safad

Sabalan ( ar, سبلان, ''Sabalân'') was a Palestinian Arab village in the Safad Subdistrict, located northwest of Safad. It stood at an elevation of above sea level overlooking the Druze village of Hurfeish (now a Druze town). In 1945, Sabalan had a population of 70.Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945''. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p.
71
/ref> It was depopulated during the 1948 Palestine War.

History

In 1881, the PEF's ''Survey of Western Palestine'' (SWP) described ''Neby Sebelan'' as "a village, built of stone, surrounding the tomb of the Neby Sebalan; containing about 100 Moslems; on top of high hill, with figs, olives, and arable land. There are four good springs to the east, besides cisterns."Khalidi, 1992, p.489. Some believe Sabalan is supposed to be Zebulun, the son of Jacob, while others claim he was a ''da'is'' ("missionary") who joined the Druze religion and helped promote it in the region. Archaeological artifacts, namely rock-cut tombs are located near the tomb.Khalidi, 1992, p. 490

A population list from about 1887 showed ''Nebi Abu Sebalan'' to have about 75 inhabitants; all Muslims.

British Mandate era

In the British Mandate period, it had a circular plan with most of its houses being closely clustered together. Because of the steep slopes that surrounded Sabalan, the village was only able to expand on its northwestern end. Although the tomb of Nabi Sabalan was sacred to the Druze, At the centre of the village stood a mosque.

In the 1922 census of Palestine ''Sabalan'' had a population of 68; all Muslim,Barron, 1923, Table XI, Sub-district of Safad, p
41
/ref> increasing in the 1931 census, to 94 Muslims, in 18 houses.Mills, 1932, p
110
/ref>

By the 1945 statistics the population was 70 Muslims, with a total of 1,798 dunams of land, according to an official land and population survey. Of this, a total of 421 dunums were used for cereals; 144 dunums were irrigated or used for plantations, while a 14 dunams were built-up (urban) area.

1948, aftermath

On October 30, 1948, during the Israeli offensive Operation Hiram, Sabalan was captured. Units of Israel's Golani Brigade overran the village with support from the Sheva Brigade as they were advancing along the road leading from Suhmata and Sa'sa'. No Jewish localities were built on village lands, According to Palestinian historian, Walid Khalidi, "Only one village house and a well remain." The remaining house is occupied by the Druze guards and caretakers of the Nabi Sabalan tomb and new buildings were constructed to accommodate pilgrims and visitors. In 1965, Druze youth activists led by Samih al-Qasim protested the confiscation of the lands surrounding the tomb by the Israeli government which declared them "state lands."Firro, 1999, p.182. The Druze religious leadership established ''Eid al-Nabi Sabalan'' ("Feast of the Prophet Sabalan") in 1971.Swayd, 2006, p.140.

Today, the lands of the village, including the holy shrine, were annexed to the Druze town of Hurfeish. A neighborhood for released soldiers was built there.

References

Bibliography

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External links

Welcome To SabalanSabalan
Zochrot
Saabalan
Villages of Palestine

from the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center
The story of Sabalan
24/10/2008, Zochrot
*Survey of Western Palestine, Map 4
IAAWikimedia commons

{{Palestinian Arab villages depopulated during the 1948 Palestine War

Druze holy places
Arab villages depopulated during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War
District of Safad
Ziyarat
Religious buildings and structures in Israel