Al-Fasayil
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| al-Fasayil | |
| Arabic | فصايل |
| Government | Village Council |
| Also Spelled | al-Fasa'il (officially)
Khirbet al-Fasayil (unofficially) |
| Governorate | Jericho |
| Population | 900 (2006) |
| Jurisdiction | 47,951 dunams (48.0 km²) |
al-Fasayil (Arabic: فصايل) is a Palestinian village in the northeastern West Bank, a part of the Jericho Governorate, located 14 kilometers northwest of Jericho and about 40 kilometers southeast of Nablus. The closest Palestinian locality is Duma to the west. The village's total land area is 47,951 dunams.[1]
Its population was 318 in 1961, decreasing dramatically to about 150 in 1983.[1] According to a census taken by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, al-Fasayil had a population of 648 in 1997, of which 31% were refugees fleeing other parts of the West Bank in the 1967 Six-Day War.[2] The gender make-up was approximately 50% male and 50% female.[3] There were 900 inhabitants in mid-year 2006.[4]
[edit] History
Al-Fasayil was known as Phasaelis.[5] The village's ancient name derived from a tower that Herod the Great built in the Jordan Valley north of Jericho in dedication to his elder brother Phasael.[6] This has lead to the belief that Herod founded Phasaelis.[7] It was mentioned by Roman historian Josephus as being south of Archelais. It is also found on the Map of Madaba surrounded by date palms.[5][7] The tomb of an anchorite named Peter was found in the village in 1949.[5]
The ruins of a monastery dedicated to Saint Cyriacus a commemorated monk who died 556 CE is also located in al-Fasayil. Among the ruins on the site is a large square building, of which now only the outline is visible, because it is almost completely buried. At the mouth of the nearby Wadi al-Fasayil, in a little mound, there is a birkeh ("pool") and many unexcavated remains of walls. The site is called Tell Sheikh ad-Diab because of a tomb of this personage, still in good condition.[5]
Al-Fasayil was part of the Nablus District until 1995 when it became a part of the Jericho Governorate.
[edit] Recent developments
In 2006, Israeli authorities demolished 15 shelters in the village and in 2008, an additional 6 were demolished.[8] Al-Fasayil gained international attention when in 2007, the Israel Defense Forces planned on demolishing the village's primary school. Since al-Fasayil is located in Area C of the West Bank, Israel has complete control over the village and granting building permits are authorized by them; The school was built without a permit. Residents often complain about the rarity of Israel permitting construction in the village.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Welcome to al-Fasa'il PalestineRemembered.
- ^ Palestinian Population by Locality and Refugee Status Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ Palestinian Population by Locality, Sex and Age Groups in Years Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ Projected Mid -Year Population for Jericho Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
- ^ a b c d Phasaelis - (Kh. Fasayil) Studium Biblicum Franciscanum - Jerusalem. 2000-12-19.
- ^ Josephus, Jewish War 1.21.9;
- ^ a b The Estate of the Southern Jordan River Virtual Karak Resources Project and Appalachian College Association.
- ^ Jordan Valley Residents Land Research Center. 2008-03-01.
- ^ The fight to build a West Bank village school Amnesty International. 2007-11-01.
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