ad-Dhahiriya

ad-Dhahiriya
Other transcription(s)
– Arabic	الظاهرية
– Also spelled	al-Dhahiriya (official) az-Zahiriya (unofficial)
Al-Dhahiriya, 1920s
ad-Dhahiriya Location of ad-Dhahiriya within the Palestinian territories
Coordinates: 31°24′27.44″N 34°58′20.28″E / 31.4076222°N 34.9723°E / 31.4076222; 34.9723Coordinates: 31°24′27.44″N 34°58′20.28″E / 31.4076222°N 34.9723°E / 31.4076222; 34.9723
Governorate	Hebron
Government
– Type	City
Population (2007)
– Jurisdiction	28,776

ad-Dhahiriya (also az-Zahiriya) (Arabic: الظاهرية‎) is a Palestinian city in the Hebron Governorate, 23 km southwest of the city of Hebron in the southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, ad-Dhahiriya had a population of 28,776 in 2007.^[1]

History

According to Conder, Claude Reignier and H.H. Kitchener Ad-Dhahiriya was probably the site of the ancient biblical town of Debir. ^[2]

In 1856, a Scottish clergyman, Horatius Bonar described the village and its ruined castle: "Suddenly, at an abrupt elbow of the ravine, we are relieved by seeing the old castle, perched on its rocky height well in the setting sun; the poor village, which seems to hang about it, with, with its square yellow huts, rather helps, at this distance, to improve its appearance, and to give dignity to its towers and broken ramparts. From this point it looks much bolder and substantial than it is; not so isolated as El-Aujeh, which we passed some days ago, but well-set upon yon craggy perch. Like most of its fellow castles in the east and border “peels” in the north, it has seen better days, and has at one time, been a noble stronghold for Romans, or Crusaders, or Turks…"^[3]

According to the Survey of Western Palestine, the village had a population of 300-400 in 1874. In 1877, it was deserted due to "encroachment of the Arabs into the country of the fellahin." ^[4]

Modern era

The first village council was established in in 1963. In 1996, the Palestinian Authority appointed a municipal council. In 2004, a 13-member council was elected with paid employees.^[5]

The primary health care facilities for the municipality are designated by the Ministry of Health as level 3.^[6]

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the entrance to the village was closed by an IDF earth mound on 14 April 2005, forcing all Palestinians in the area to travel via Dura.^{[7][dated info]}

References

1. ^ 2007 PCBS Census Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. p.120.
2. ^ Conder, Claude Reignier and H.H. Kitchener (1881): The Survey of Western Palestine: memoirs of the topography, orography, hydrography, and archaeology. London:Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund. vol 3 p.402
3. ^ Horatius Bonar (reprinted 2002) The Land of Promise: Notes of a Spring-journey from Beersheba to Sidon Adamant Media Corporation ISBN 1-4021-9266-5 p 32
4. ^ Conder, Claude Reignier and H.H. Kitchener (1881): The Survey of Western Palestine: memoirs of the topography, orography, hydrography, and archaeology. London:Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund. vol 3 p.402
5. ^ The priorities and needs for development in Adh Dhahiriya town based on the community and local authorities’ assessment
6. ^ West Bank Health care
7. ^ OCHA Weekly Briefing Notes Update for oPt (13–19 April 2005)

External links

• Adh Dhahiriya Town (Fact Sheet)
• Adh Dhahiriya Town Profile