| Maghar | |||
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| Hebrew transcription(s) | |||
| • Hebrew | מַעָ'ר, מע'אר, מגאר | ||
| • ISO 259 | (Mrar) (Israeli pronunciation) | ||
| • Also spelled | Mughar (official) Mrar, Mghar (unofficial) |
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| Arabic transcription(s) | |||
| • Arabic | المغار | ||
| Maghar from the south | |||
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Maghar
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| Coordinates: | |||
| District | North | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Local council (from 1956) | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 19,810 dunams (19.8 km2 / 7.6 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2009)[1] | |||
| • Total | 19,900 | ||
| Name meaning | Cave | ||
Maghar (Arabic: المغار, Hebrew: מַעָ'ר, also al-Maghar or Mghar; lit. the cave) is an Arab town in Israel's North District with an area of 19,810 dunams. Maghar achieved local council status in 1956. There were 19,900 people living in Maghar at the end of 2009.[1]
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Maghar was known as "Zar" during the Roman period. Many olive groves and wine presses testify to a long history of agriculture in the area, and numerous hillside caves show signs of ancient habitation. In fact the village's name comes from the Arabic word for "cave".
The town of Maghar is entirely Arab with a Druze majority (57%), Christians (23%), and Muslims (20%).[2] Many of the Druze residents serve in the IDF and Israel Police. A new neighbourhood was recently built for demobilized soldiers.
In 2005, rumours that Christians had uploaded pornographic pictures of Druze girls led to thousands of Druze youth marching through Christian neighbourhoods, torching cars and shops. A police investigation proved the rumors false. They were attributed to a 16-year old Druze boy who initially confessed but later retracted his statement, claiming that the police were searching for a scapegoat.[3]
In August 2003, the Israel Circus School established a joint Jewish-Arab "Children’s Circus" together with its partner, Circus Maghar. A group of 20 Jewish and Arab children trained for the circus. In addition to local performances, the circus school toured Cyprus, giving workshops and performances for Christian and Muslim schools and community centers.[4]
During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, two residents of Maghar were killed and several were wounded as a result of Hezbollah rocket and cluster bomb attacks.[5][6] On July 25, Da'aa Abbas, 15, was killed by a rocket that hit his house. Da'aa was killed instantly. The rest of the family suffered minor injuries and were evacuated to Poriya Hospital in Tiberias. On August 4, Manal Azzam, 27, was killed by shrapnel from a Hezbollah cluster rocket.[7] Azzam was in her apartment's corridor which was used as a fortified safe room.[8]
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