Urif

‘Urif is located 7.6km south of Nablus. It is bordered by ‘Einabus to the east, ‘Asira al Qibliya to the north, and Jamma’in to the west and south.[http://vprofile.arij.org/nablus/pdfs/vprofile/Urif_vp_en.pdf ‘Urif Village Profile], ARIJ, p. 4

Ceramics from the late Roman have been found here.Dauphin, 1998, p. 803 Dauphin writes that ceramics from the Byzantine era also have been found, but Ellenblum writes that no pottery from that era has been found here.Ellenblum, 2003, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=riHMZiH_Te4C&pg=PA263 263]

A woman of Dayr Urif, Sa'ida, was wed to Ahmad ibn Khalid ibn Qudama, a jurist and leader of Hanbali villagers in the Nablus area who fled from Crusader rule to Damascus between 1156 and 1173.Kedar and al-Hajjuj 1994, [https://books.google.com/books?id=96NtAAAAMAAJ&q="Dayr+Urif%22 pp. 147, 149]. Ahmad's grandson Diya al-Din (1173–1245) refers to the presence of Muslims in Urif during his lifetime.Ellenblum, 2003, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=riHMZiH_Te4C&pg=PA244 244]

The medieval town of Gerraa, today the ruin of Khirbet Jarra'a, was located to the west.

Urif was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine, and in 1596 it appeared in the tax registers as being in the nahiya (subdistrict) of Jabal Qubal of the liwa (district) of Nablus. It was noted as hali, empty, but a fixed tax rate of 33.3% was paid on various agricultural products, such as wheat, barley, summer crops, olive trees, goats and/or beehives, in addition to "occasional revenues"; a total of 2,800 akçe.Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 130

In 1838 Urif was noted as a Muslim village, part of the Jurat Merda subdistrict, located south of Nablus.Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p. [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearch03robiuoft#page/127/mode/1up 127] In 1870, Victor Guérin found the village to occupy the top of a hill, and having about 450 inhabitants.Guérin, 1875, p. [https://archive.org/stream/descriptiongogr04gugoog#page/n202/mode/1up 177] In 1882, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described Urif as: "A stone village, on high ground, with a few olives; supplied by wells and with a small spring to the east."Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP II, p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp02conduoft#page/287/mode/1up 287]

In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Urif had a population of 270 Muslims,Barron, 1923, Table IX, p. [https://archive.org/stream/PalestineCensus1922/Palestine%20Census%20%281922%29#page/n27/mode/1up 25] increasing in the 1931 census to 403; 402 Muslims and 1 Christian, in 103 houses.Mills, 1932, p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas 66]

In the 1945 statistics the population was 520, all Muslims,Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics, 1945, p. [http://cs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/VSpages/VS1945_p19.jpg 19] while the total land area was 3,965 dunams, according to an official land and population survey.Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20I/Nablus/Page-061.jpg 61]

Of this, 1,107 dunams were for plantations and irrigable land, 1,452 for cereals,Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20II/Nablus/Page-108.jpg 108] while 32 dunams were classified as built-up areas.Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. Village Statistics, April, 1945. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20III/Nablus/Page-158.jpg 158]

In the wake of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and after the 1949 Armistice Agreements, Urif came under Jordanian rule. The Jordanian census of 1961 found 710 inhabitants.Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics, 1964, p. [http://users.cecs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/JordanCensusPages/JordanCensus1961-p25.pdf 25]

Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Urif has been under Israeli occupation. As of 2014, 3,115 dunams (77%) of Urif land were Area B, while 949 (23%) were Area C. 58 dunums of Urif's land have been confiscated for the Israeli settlement of Yitzhar.[http://vprofile.arij.org/nablus/pdfs/vprofile/Urif_vp_en.pdf ‘Urif Village Profile], ARIJ, 2014, p. 15

• On May 19, 2012, about 25 Jewish settlers, some of them carrying guns, set fire to the wheat fields of Urif, and shot one Palestinian man in the stomach.[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israeli-settler-shoots-palestinian-in-west-bank-1.432743 Israeli Settler Shoots Palestinian in West Bank], May 26, 2012, Haaretz
• On May 26, 2012, settlers from Yitzhar shot a youth from Urif. They then tied him up and proceeded to beat him.[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/idf-inquiry-finds-israeli-youth-tied-and-beat-palestinian-after-shot-by-settlers-1.434004 IDF Inquiry Finds Israeli Youth Tied and Beat Palestinian After Shot by Settlers], June 3, 2012, Haaretz Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika said that the shooting was a defensive act against a man who wielded a knife. The clash had started when a group of settlers were thought to have set fire to fields belonging to Urif, although the settlers denied any involvement.{{cite news| url= http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Palestinian-settler-violence-caught-on-tape-again| title= Palestinian, settler violence caught on tape again | author= Lazaroff, Tovah| work=The Jerusalem Post| date= 29 May 2012| access-date= 9 April 2017}}
• In 2013, settlers from Yitzhar reportedly smashed the window of a mosque in Urif and tried to burn it down.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israelis-burn-palestinian-fields-and-stone-vehicles-in-west-bank-after-father-is-stabbed-to-death-at-settlement-bus-stop-8597810.html| title=Israelis burn Palestinian fields and stone vehicles in West Bank after father is stabbed to death at settlement bus stop| author= Kalman, Matthew| date= 30 April 2013| work=The Independent| access-date= 9 April 2017}}{{cite news| url= http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/settlers-riot-after-west-bank-terror-attack-6-arrested.premium-1.518394#| title=Israeli settlers riot after West Bank terror attack, 6 arrested| author=Levinson, Chaim | date=30 April 2013| work= Haaretz| access-date= 9 April 2017}}{{cite web| url= http://www.btselem.org/settler_violence/20130502_military_not_protecting_palestinians_from_vengeful_settler| title=Video footage shows the army failed in its duty to protect Palestinians from settler revenge attacks| publisher=B'Tselem| date= 2 May 2013| access-date= 9 April 2017}}
• In February, 2015, settlers from Yitzhar defaced the village school with graffiti, with 'Death to Arabs' sprayed alongside the Star of David in an alleged price tag attacks.
• In July 2016, the IDF confiscated in Urif homemade weapons and ammunition, and lathes used to manufacture weapons, as well as apprehending four local Arab residents of Urif who sold such weapons.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mako.co.il/news-military/security-q3_2016/Article-d5b53b52108d551004.htm|title = N12 - נעצרו יצרני וסוחרי נשק ליד שכם|date = 11 July 2016}}
• In 2017, farmers from Urif were prevented from working on their land in Area B.[http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Barred-access-to-his-farmlands-twice-Palestinian-farmer-says-he-will-wait-for-IDFs-help-485887 Twice barred Palestinian farmer says he will wait for IDF permission], April 2, 2017, Jerusalem Post[http://www.haaretz.com/misc/article-print-page/.premium-1.780981 In the West Bank, the tail wags the dog. When civilian security officers are dictating policy on the ground, to whom should Palestinian farmers in Urif turn?], April 2, 2017, Amira Hass, Haaretz
• In May, 2021, as part of the 2021 demonstrations; Nidal Sael Safadi was killed in Urif by the Israeli army, while "trying to confront Israeli settlers who were storming the area".[https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-west-bank-protests-killed Palestinians killed in West Bank as Israeli crackdown intensifies], Shatha Hammad, 14 May 2021, Middle East Eye
• In June 2023, it was the target – along with nearby Turmus Ayya and several other Palestinian villages – of Israeli settler terror attacks.{{Cite news |title=20 Countries Rail at Israel for Settler Mob Attacks on Palestinians, IDF Condemns as 'Terror' |language=en |work=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-06-24/ty-article/.premium/20-countries-hold-israel-responsible-for-string-of-mob-attacks-on-palestinian-towns/00000188-ee31-df52-a79d-fe336eb30000 |access-date=2023-09-23}} After the attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson called the incursions and attacks by armed Jewish settlers "acts of terror conducted by criminals", adding that the IDF had “failed to prevent” the attacks, described as “very grave”, and that such incidents "create terror" by pushing the attacked civilian populations "towards extremism".{{Cite web |author=ToI Staff |title=IDF spokesman slams settler riots that 'create terror'; far-right MK: It was a protest |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-spokesman-slams-settler-riots-that-create-terror-far-right-mk-it-was-a-protest/ |access-date=2023-09-23 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}

File:201805 defenseless against settlers violence photoblog jamileh shhadeh urif.jpg |81 year old Jamileh Shehadeh, Urif, who had all her olive trees cut down by Israeli settlers

File:201805 defenseless against settlers violence photoblog urif2.jpg |"Fight the enemy. Price Tag." Hebrew Graffiti spray-painted by Israeli settlers

File:Itzhar01.jpg |Maqam (shrine) of Salman the Persian northeast of UrifPalmer, 1881, p. [https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp00conduoft/page/191/mode/1up 191]

{{reflist|25em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book | editor =Barron, J.B. | title = Palestine: Report and General Abstracts of the Census of 1922 |url=https://archive.org/details/PalestineCensus1922 |publisher = Government of Palestine | year = 1923}}
• {{cite book|last1=Conder|first1=C.R.|author-link1=Claude Reignier Conder|last2=Kitchener|first2=H.H.|author-link2=Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|year=1882|url=https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp02conduoft|title=The Survey of Western Palestine: Memoirs of the Topography, Orography, Hydrography, and Archaeology|location=London|publisher=Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund|volume=2}}
• {{cite book |last= Dauphin |first = C.|author-link= Claudine Dauphin| title = La Palestine byzantine, Peuplement et Populations |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FC1mAAAAMAAJ |volume = III : Catalogue | series = BAR International Series 726 | year = 1998 | publisher = Archeopress | location = Oxford|language =fr|isbn= 0-860549-05-4}}
• {{cite book |first=R.|last=Ellenblum|author-link= Ronnie Ellenblum|title=Frankish Rural Settlement in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=riHMZiH_Te4C | publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2003|isbn= 9780521521871}}
• {{cite book | title = First Census of Population and Housing. Volume I: Final Tables; General Characteristics of the Population | author = Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics | year = 1964|url=http://cs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/JordanCensus1961bits.pdf}}
• {{cite book|title=Village Statistics, April, 1945 |url=http://web.nli.org.il/sites/nli/Hebrew/library/Pages/BookReader.aspx?pid=856390|author=Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics|year=1945}}
• {{cite book|last=Guérin|first=V.|author-link=Victor Guérin|title=Description Géographique Historique et Archéologique de la Palestine|url=https://archive.org/details/descriptiongogr04gugoog|volume=2: Samarie, pt. 2|year=1875|publisher= L'Imprimerie Nationale|location=Paris|language=fr}}
• {{cite book|title=Village Statistics of 1945: A Classification of Land and Area ownership in Palestine|url=http://www.palestineremembered.com/Articles/General-2/Story3150.html|first=S.|last=Hadawi|author-link=Sami Hadawi|year=1970|publisher=Palestine Liberation Organization Research Center}}
• {{cite book | last1= Hütteroth |first1=W.-D.|author-link1=Wolf-Dieter Hütteroth |first2=K. | last2=Abdulfattah |author-link2=Kamal Abdulfattah| title = Historical Geography of Palestine, Transjordan and Southern Syria in the Late 16th Century |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=wqULAAAAIAAJ | year = 1977 | publisher = Erlanger Geographische Arbeiten, Sonderband 5. Erlangen, Germany: Vorstand der Fränkischen Geographischen Gesellschaft|isbn= 3-920405-41-2}}
• {{cite book | editor = Mills, E. | title = Census of Palestine 1931. Population of Villages, Towns and Administrative Areas |url=https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas | publisher = Government of Palestine | location = Jerusalem | year = 1932}}
• {{cite book|last=Palmer|first=E.H.|author-link=Edward Henry Palmer|year=1881|url=https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp00conduoft|title=The Survey of Western Palestine: Arabic and English Name Lists Collected During the Survey by Lieutenants Conder and Kitchener, R. E. Transliterated and Explained by E.H. Palmer|publisher=Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund}}
• {{cite book|last1=Robinson|first1=E.|author-link1=Edward Robinson (scholar)|last2=Smith|first2=E.|author-link2=Eli Smith|year=1841|url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearch03robiuoft |title=Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838| location=Boston|publisher=Crocker & Brewster|volume=3}}

{{refend}}

• [http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/_Urif_596/index.html Welcome To 'Urif]
• [http://palsolidarity.org/tag/urif/ Urif]
• Survey of Western Palestine, Map 14: [http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8376 IAA], [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Survey_of_Western_Palestine_1880.14.jpg Wikimedia commons]
• [http://vprofile.arij.org/nablus/pdfs/vprofile/Urif_vp_en.pdf ‘Urif Village Profile], Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem (ARIJ)
• [http://vprofile.arij.org/nablus/pdfs/needsfordevelopment/Urif_Needs_EN.pdf Development Priorities and Needs in ‘Urif], ARIJ
• [http://poica.org/2013/04/setting-22-dunums-of-agricultural-lands-ablaze-in-urif-village-nablus-governorate/ Setting 22 Dunums of Agricultural Lands Ablaze in Urif village -Nablus Governorate], POICA, April 30, 2013

{{Nablus Governorate}}

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Category:Nablus Governorate

Category:Villages in the West Bank

Category:Municipalities of Palestine