- 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 northernWest Bank , located 20 kilometers west ofRamallah . According to thePalestinian 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
dunam s 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 ofMattathias theHasmonean 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 ofMaccabee s 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 ofJonathan , Modeim passed intoJew ish possession with the rest of the toparchy ofLydda . On theMap of Madaba it is located east of Lydda.References
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