Al-Midya

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=al-Midya


imgsize=250
caption=
arname=المديه
meaning=
founded=
type=mund
typefrom=
altOffSp=al-Midyah
altUnoSp=
governorate=rb
latd=31|latm=56|lats=08.91|latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=00|longs=18.91|longEW=E
population=1,300
popyear=2006
area=892
areakm=0.9
mayor=

al-Midya ( _ar. المديه) is a Palestinian village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the northern West Bank, located 20 kilometers west of Ramallah. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of over 1,300 inhabitants in mid-year 2006. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop07.aspx Projected Mid -Year Population for Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.]

Al-Midya's total land area was 6,959 dunams in 1942, but after 1948 and the seizure of most of the village's western land, it was reduced to 892 dunams, of which 217 were classified as built-up areas. [ [http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=285 The series of Israeli annexation and threatening are now targeting Al-Midya village in Ramallah District] Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem. 2003-08-14.]

History

The ancient village site is located at Ras al-Midya, north of the village, where pottery from the Iron Age and later periods has been found. Al-Midya — anciently known as Modeim — was the birthplace of Mattathias the Hasmonean and of his descendants. It was in the village that the Hasmonean revolt broke out. [I Macc. 2:1, 15, 23] The rebels were forced to evacuate the village, but were able to bury their dead there. [I Macc. 2:70; 9:19; 13:25-30] Simeon the Hasmonean built a mausoleum, which was adorned with seven pyramids and high columns with sculptures of ships visible from the sea. The tombs of Maccabees have been found north of the village. [ [http://198.62.75.1/www1/ofm/mad/discussion/066discuss.html Modeim, today Moditha, the place of origin of the Maccabeans - (al-Midiyah)] Studium Biblicum Franciscanum - Jerusalem. 2000-12-19.] In the time of Jonathan, Modeim passed into Jewish possession with the rest of the toparchy of Lydda. On the Map of Madaba it is located east of Lydda.

References