Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians: Briefly, al-Ramla's History

Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians: Briefly, al-Ramla's History

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Posted on November 12, 2000

Located in Palestine's coastal plain, Ramla differs from many Palestinian towns in its relatively recent origins. It was established by the Arabs in 716 C.E. and contains the tomb venerated by Muslims as that of the Qur'anic figure Salih.

Ramla constituted a very important point along communications and transportation lines (including railroad) in Palestine. This fact has long placed it at the center of campaigns by various invaders throughout history, many of which-including those of the Crusaders and Napoleon Bonaparte have seized it from its Muslim defenders. Ramla was also a longtime administrative center in Palestine. It was the capital of the Jund Filastin during the early Islamic period, and the center of the subdistrict bearing its name during the PALESTINE MANDATE. The Mandate era witnessed a phenomenal growth in the town's population as well: from some 6,500 before the World War I to 16,380 by 1946.

Given its location along important caravan routes from Syria to Egypt and later the railroad between JERUSALEM and JAFFA, trade long constituted an important part of Ramla's economy. Agriculture was also important; among the most important crops grown in the town's 38,983 dunums of land were olives and fruit, especially oranges. Ramla was long an important center for artisan production. Among its well-known products were textiles and carpets, dairy products, olive oil, and olive oil soap.

Along with that of neighboring LYDDA, the fate of Ramla and its inhabitants during the ARAB-ISRAELI WAR OF 1948 was a microcosm of the wider Palestinian tragedy. It was defended by Palestinian forces, irregular volunteers from JORDAN, and units of the Jordanian Arab Legion that had entered Palestine on the British withdrawal in May 1948. Hard pressed to defend the legion's position at Latrun, the Briton commanding the legion, Lieutenant General John Glubb, refused to reinforce the legion detachment despite the Zionist threat to the town. Ramla was captured by Palmach forces on July 12, 1948, whereupon all but 400 of its 15,000 residents were immediately expelled.

Michael R. Fischbach

The article above has been quoted from Encyclopedia Of The Palestinians edited by Philip Mattar

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