|
|subdivision_name2 = [[Northern District (Israel)|Northern]]
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = {{Start date and age|1896}}
|leader_title = Head of Municipality
|leader_name = David Azulai
}}
'''Metula''' ({{lang-he|מְטֻלָּה}}) is a [[local council (Israel)|town]] in the [[Northern District (Israel)|Northern District of Israel]], and the northernmost town inof Israel;. itIt abuts the [[Israel-Lebanon border]]. It had in {{Israel populations|Year}} a population of {{Israel populations|Metula}}.
==History==
====Founding of the Jewish moshava====
When the [[Druze Rebellion of 1895]] broke out, the men of Mutallah joined its ranks. Since the women were not able to cope with the work, the owner of the land, a Christian from [[Sidon]] named Jabur Bey Riskalas (Greek Diplomat to Middle East), sold 12,800 [[dunam]]s of land to [[Edmond James de Rothschild|Baron de Rothschild]]'s chief officer Joshua Ossovetski.<ref name=Morris55>Morris, 2001, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jGtVsBne7PgC&pg=PA55 55]</ref><ref name=Avneri>Avneri, 1984, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8Teb4dKHQcoC&pg=PA96 96]-98</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Marom|first=Roy|title=The Abu Hameds of Mulabbis: An Oral History of a Palestinian Village Depopulated in the Late Ottoman Period|url=https://www.academia.edu/49228200|journal=British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies|date=January 2021 |language=en|volume=48|page=2}}</ref> It had been inhabited and cultivated by more than 600 [[Druze]] tenant farmers. When the Druze Rebellion was put down, the men returned and demanded their tenancy rights back.<ref name=Avneri/> Ossovetski called in the Turkish authorities, who came to arrest the Druse as deserters and rebels, while Ossovetski offered them paltry compensation to leave the land.<ref name =Avneri/> Many were dissatisfied and eight years of feuds and violent clashes ensued.<ref name=Avneri/> Eventually an agreement was reached between the villagers and the [[Jewish Colonization Association]] in 1904 for an additional payment of 60,000 francs (3,000 Turkish pounds).<ref name=Morris55/><ref name=Avneri/><ref name=Gorney>{{cite book |author= Yosef Gorney |title= Zionism and the Arabs, 1882-1948: a study of ideology |publisher= Oxford University Press |location= USA |year=1987 |page=18 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=crHjZnRmWhgC&q=Metulla |isbn=978-0-19-822721-2 }}</ref> This episode brought much criticism of the methods of Rothschild's agents, including some from other Zionists such as [[Ahad Ha'am]].<ref name=Avneri/><ref name=Gorney/><ref>{{cite journal |author=Alan Dowty |author-link=Alan Dowty |title= "A Question That Outweighs All Others": Yitzhak Epstein and Zionist Recognition of the Arab Issue |journal= Israel Studies |volume=6 |year=2001 |pages=34–54 |doi=10.1353/is.2001.0003|s2cid= 144575833 }}</ref> The Druze moved to other Druze-inhabited villages, including [[Isfiya]] on [[Mount Carmel]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Falah |first1=Salman |editor1-last=Maoz |editor1-first=Moshe |title=Studies on Palestine during the Ottoman Period |date=1975 |publisher=Magnes Press |location=Jerusalem |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DoJtAAAAMAAJ |chapter=A History of the Druze Settlements in Palestine during the Ottoman Period |page=45|isbn=978-965-223-589-3 }}</ref>
The Jewish ''[[moshava]]'' settlement was founded in June 1896 by 60 farming families from more established settlements and 20 families of non-farming professions. Most of the founders were immigrants from Russia. Pioneers (''halutzim'') from [[Petah Tikva]] also joined in settling Metula, as did some religious scholars from [[Safed]].{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
At the end of [[World War I]], Metula was in the area of French [[Occupied Enemy Territory Administration|military occupation]].<ref name=Biger>Biger, 2004, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jC9MbKNh8GUC&pg=PA134 134]</ref> The British Zionist [[Norman Bentwich]] wrote in 1919:
{{quoteblockquote|Metullah, the most northern outpost, is acquiring a new function as a summer resort for the rest of the country. Its mountain air and its splendid site, high up above a ravine, down which a stream dashes headlong to Jordan, makes it a chosen place in the dry days, and already its few homesteads are crowded in July and August. Metullah is a summer station for the hardy men and women of the colonies; it lies too far from the high road to attract the tourist, but in course of time it, or some other place in the highland region, will become for the Jewish dwellers of the lowlands what a number of hill stations in the Lebanon are already to the Syrians of the plains.<ref>Bentwich, 1919, p. [https://archive.org/stream/palestineofjewsp00bentrich#page/96/mode/1up 96]</ref>}}
The [[Franco-British boundary agreement (1920)|1920 boundary agreement]] between Britain and France stated that Metula was to be in Palestine, but it was not until 1924 that the change to British control was complete.<ref name=Biger/> During the intervening years, the residents of Metula even took part in elections for the [[Parliament of Lebanon|Lebanese parliament]].<ref name=Biger/>
File:מטולה - מראה כללי של מטולה והסביבה.-JNF037694.jpeg|Metula 1926
File:מטולה - מראה, כבשים עוברים במושבה.-JNF028599.jpeg|Metula 1937
File:Metula 1948.jpg|British army camp at Metula 1948
File:Metula Bridge i.jpg|MetulaThe Bridgebridge over [[Nahal Ayun]] after being blown up, 15 February 1948
File:Metula ii.jpg|Members of [[Yiftach Brigade]] at(which Metula,blew 1948up the bridge)
File:Metula iii.jpg|Metula camp after [[Yiftach Brigade]] takeover, 1948
</gallery>
====Nahal Ayyun Bridge====
[[File:Metula Bridge.jpg|thumb|right|Nahal AyyunAyun Bridge]]
The bridge over [[Nahal Ayun |Nahal Ayyun]] was built by the British in the years 1943–44. On June 17, 1946 ([[Night of the bridges]]) all four [[Palmach]] battalions (the [[Haganah]] elite units) captured and destroyed 11 border bridges. As a consequence, on June 29, 1946 ("Black Sabbath"), the British soldiers imprisoned many [[Yishuv]] leaders and Palmach members. The bridge was blown up again by the Palmach during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|War of Independence]]. The bridgeIt was repaired in the 1980s.<ref>See [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Metula_Bridge.jpg municipality plaque at the site]</ref> ▼
▲The bridge over [[Nahal Ayun|Nahal Ayyun]] was built by the British in the years 1943–44. On June 17, 1946 ([[Night of the bridges]]) all four [[Palmach]] battalions (the [[Haganah]] elite units) captured and destroyed 11 border bridges. As a consequence, on June 29, 1946 ("Black Sabbath"), the British soldiers imprisoned many [[Yishuv]] leaders and Palmach members. The bridge was blown up again by the Palmach during the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War|War of Independence]]. The bridge was repaired in the 1980s.<ref>See [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Metula_Bridge.jpg municipality plaque at the site]</ref>
===State of Israel===
In modern Israel, Metula is known as a wealthy town popular as a tourist destination, especially for Israeli schoolchildren duringon summer vacation.<ref name=voa>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYLUCovhd28 Calm Returns to Israeli Border Town Two Years After War]</ref>
====The "Good Fence" (1976–2000)====
The [[Good Fence]] ({{Script/Hebrew|הגדר הטובה}}, ''HaGader HaTova'' or [[Fatima's gate|Fatima Crossing]]) was a border crossing from Metula to Lebanon; it opened in 1976, and was closed in 2000 after Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. The border crossing had allowed the population of southern LebanonLebanese to find jobs in northern Israel, access health services, attend school in Israel, and transport goods.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
====1985 attack====
[[File:Metula Memorial.jpg|thumb|right|upright|"Safari" Disaster Memorial site]]
The Safari Disaster happenedoccurred during the [[South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)]]. InOn the afternoon of Sunday, March 10, 1985, a convoy of [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] soldiers on theirin "Safari" model trucks were driving from Metula towards the Lebanese town of [[Marjayoun]]. Dozens of soldiers, having just returned fromattended [[Shabbat]], were on their way back to duty. In accordance with regulations, one armed jeep in the forefront and two onin the tailrear, the soldiers were wearingand helmets and bullet-proof vests were worn. TheyAs they were just crossing the narrow bridge over Nahal Ayyun at 13:45, when they noticed on the other side a red Chevrolet pickup truck drivingdrove towards them. The soldiers of the first jeep noticed justthat onethe driver, smilinghad friendly. Theysmile, signaledand himhe was signaled to pull over to let the convoy pass. The first jeep and the first safari truck passed,did whenso. atAt 13:50 the driver of the Chevrolet detonated a tremendous explosion occurred, which shattered windows even back in Metula. The red truck exploded in a huge fireball, and hurled soldiers through the airitself. Twelve soldiers were killed and 14 wounded in the explosion.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Israel in Mourning as 12 Killed in Suicide-truck Bombing Are Buried |date= 12 March 1985 |url= http://www.jta.org/1985/03/12/archive/israel-in-mourning-as-12-killed-in-suicide-truck-bombing-are-buried }}</ref>
====2006 Lebanon War====
During the [[2006 Lebanon War]], Metula became a temporary [[ghost town]] aswhen its population temporarilypopulace fled to escape Hezbollah rocket fire. The townIt was hit by 120 rockets during the war.<ref name=voa/>
==== 2023 Israel–Hamas war ==== ▼
In the midst of the [[ 2023 Israel–Hamas war |2023 conflict between Hamas and Israel]], [[Hezbollah]] militants targeted northern Israeli border communities with rockets and missiles, prompting the evacuation of several, including Metula. On October 17, a Hezbollah-launched anti-tank missile struck Metula, resulting in the injury of one civilian and two IDF reservists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Metula missile attack injures 3; IDF kills Hezbollah cell trying to infiltrate border |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-kills-suspects-trying-to-blow-up-lebanon-border-fence-anti-tank-fire-hits-metula/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref> ▼
On 19 December, Hezbollah fired artillery shells at the town.<ref>{{Cite web |last=الدهيبي |first=جنى |title=هل ينجح الغرب في سحب حزب الله من جنوب الليطاني؟ |url=https://www.aljazeera.net/politics/2023/12/18/%d8%ad%d8%b2%d8%a8-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%87-%d9%88%d8%a5%d8%b3%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%a6%d9%8a%d9%84-%d9%85%d8%a7-%d8%ae%d9%84%d9%81%d9%8a%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ad%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%83 |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=الجزيرة نت |language=ar}}</ref>
▲==== 2023 Israel–Hamas war ====
▲In the midst of the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war|2023 conflict between Hamas and Israel]], [[Hezbollah]] militants targeted northern Israeli border communities, prompting the evacuation of several, including Metula. On October 17, a Hezbollah-launched anti-tank missile struck Metula, resulting in the injury of one civilian and two IDF reservists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |title=Metula missile attack injures 3; IDF kills Hezbollah cell trying to infiltrate border |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-kills-suspects-trying-to-blow-up-lebanon-border-fence-anti-tank-fire-hits-metula/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Area and population==
[[File:Metula CanadaCentre.jpg|thumb|right|Ice skating in the Canada Centre]]
The municipality governs a land area of 2,000 [[dunam]]s (2 km²<sup>2</sup>). According to the [[Israel Central Bureau of Statistics]] (CBS), in September 2003 Metula had a population of 1,400, predominantly [[Jew]]ish. Metula was declared a local council in 1949. Also according to the CBS, the population over the years was:
*1948 – 172
*1961 – 261
Metula lies in the [[List of extreme points of Israel|northernmost point of Israel]], next to the [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] border {{convert|6|km|mi}} at 520 m above sea level.
Winters are usually cold and wet, with an average annual rainfall of 900 mm, whilewhereas summers are warm and dry. The river Nahal Ayoun has its sources in Lebanon, about seven kilometers north of Metula.
==Notable residents==
*[http://www.canada-centre.co.il/ Canada Centre]
*[http://www.parks.org.il Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority, Eng+Heb]
*Survey of Western Palestine, Map 2: [http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8365 IAA], [http[://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/:File:Survey_of_Western_Palestine_1880.02.jpg |Wikimedia commons]]
{{Northern District (Israel)}}
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