| Tebnine تبنين |
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| — City — | |
| Village View from The Crusader Castle in 1969 | |
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Tebnine
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Governorate | Nabatieh Governorate |
| District | Bint Jbeil District |
| Highest elevation | 800 m (2,625 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 700 m (2,297 ft) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | |
| Dialing code | +961 |
Tebnine (Arabic: تبنين, also spelled Tibnin) is a Mediterranean village spread across several hills (ranging in altitude from 700m to 800m (2,275' to 2,600') above sea level) located about 25 km (16 mi) east of Tyre (Lebanon), in the heart of what is known as "Jabal Amel" or the mountain of "Amel". "Jabal Amel" designates the plateau situated between the western mountain range of Lebanon and the Galilee. (See map)
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Tebnine has several economic resources such as a governmental hospital, a police station, post office, financial institutions as well as cafes and commercial shops. It is known as one of the most diverse village in south Lebanon.
Many of Tebnine's natives live abroad primarily in the United States and Canada although many are scattered throughout the entire world. Most Tebnine natives return during the summer where the village becomes a lively place as people come from both Beirut and foreign countries for their summer vacation.
The nightlife is marked with a family-like gathering of the townspeople who often dress fashionably and "hang out" at the various cafes.
Tebnine is also well known for the "Kazdoura" a long stretch of road that extends from the beginning to the end of the village and where the townspeople often take their evening strolls. It also hosts a weekly flea market called the "Souk El Jomaa". Most of the larger villages have these flea markets and each have their own specific day. Since "Jomaa" means Friday, Tebnine hosts the flea market on that day.
Ninety percent of the townspeople speak English due to the presence of the United Nations.
In the summer of 2005 a year before the Israelis and Lebanon war Tebnine had a record number of foreigners and returning nationals visit the village.
Tebnine or (Toron) was originally a Phoenician city state. Many of the existing families of Tibnine have a background makeup of Phoenician, European and Arab due to ranging influences in the region over centuries. It was also a center for the Crusaders during the Middle Ages.
Shortly after the conquering of the Castle by Salahedine, in 1187, the El-Seid Tribesman who were direct descendants of the Prophet Mohammad and who were trusted confidantes to Salahedine, allowed other Tribesman of the Sufism Fawza, (a small group of devoted, dedicated people) to habitat in the Land of Tibnine.
After the conquering by the Mamluke Sultan al Zahir Baybars in 1266, the Tribesman of El-Seid and Fawza fought to keep Tibnine in Arab hands.
The town could be ancient as there are references to the second largest town in the vicinity, Bint Jbeil; in the Book of Joshua, usually regarded as having been written in the 13th century BC. It is also widely believed that Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine at Cana.
The town's population are mostly Jaafari Shiite Muslims and Christians Catholic. No exact population count has been taken since the census of 1932, however estimates show that the population could be around 5,000.
During the civil war, the town was mostly unaffected despite the co-existence of Muslims and Christians. The town as a whole however, was subjected to the taunting of the South Lebanese Army (Israelis backed Phalanges) who would every now and then fire on the outskirts of the town.
In 1978, the United Nations took over the security of South Lebanon by replacing the Lebanese Army. The Irish Battalion renamed the Tebnine army base Camp Shamrock.
The United Nations can be credited with providing jobs and social services to Tebnine and the surrounding villages. Camp Shamrock was responsible for the building and assistance of the Tebnin Orphanage.[1]
During the war between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006, like other villages, Tebnine had many homes destroyed but not of the magnitude of villages like Bint Jbeil, Qana and Aita Shaab.
In the old center (Zakouk), located in the upper part of town near The Crusader Castle, most of the homes are completely destroyed or damaged.
Near the government hospital there is a central hub for transportation in and out of the village. The Israelis dropped several bombs near it forcing some 2000 civilians to take refuge inside of the hospital.[2]
It has been estimated that Israel dropped 100,000 cluster bombs in the area of Tebnine and the surrounding villages.[3] Two hundred cluster bombs were found by bomb defusing experts on the first day of the ceasefire near the government hospital, where the civilians were hiding. Experts say it will take months, if not years, to remove the unexploded bombs. A Chinese battalion attached to the U.N. forces in southern Lebanon was clearing 250 to 300 unexploded devices a day.
For the first time since the civil war in 1975, The Lebanese Army has returned to South Lebanon including Tebnine as one of the conditions of UN Resolution 1701.
The climate in the village varies by season. In the summer it never rains.
Prince Hugh of Saint Omer, the governor of Tiberias built the Crusader Castle in the year 1105 to prepare for the siege of Tyre but it was later conquered by Saladin in 1187 and then taken back by the Franks in 1229. Mamluke Sultan Al-Zahir Baibars of Egypt finally conquered it in 1266 and it's been in Arab hands ever since.[4]
The castle has been confused with other castles in the country e.g. Beaufort Castle. But it is originally the Toron Castle. Today it is mostly referred to as "The Tebnine Castle".
The Crusader Castle has been used by many different factions and armies over the years because of its stragetic position overlooking miles of terrain.
With its historic castle and South Lebanon's history of occupiers and conquerors that include Alexander the Great, Tebnine has the potential to be a monumental tourist attraction in more peaceful times.
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