Al-Ja'una

Al-Ja'una was a Palestinian Arab village located 9.5 kilometers (5.9 mi) northeast of Safed, situated near the Syrian border. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

History:

Archaeological evidence suggests that the site of Al-Ja'una was inhabited since ancient times. The village was known as Ijon in antiquity, mentioned in Egyptian sources as a town conquered by Thutmose III. It later appeared in the Bible (1 Kings 15:20) as a town captured by Ben-Hadad I of Aram at the instigation of Asa, King of Judah.

During the Ottoman period, Al-Ja'una was a small agricultural village. The primary crops grown included grains, olives, and fruits.

1948 War and Depopulation:

Al-Ja'una was captured by Israeli forces on May 1, 1948, during Operation Yiftach. Most of the inhabitants were displaced to Lebanon and other Arab countries. The village was subsequently destroyed.

Present Day:

The site of Al-Ja'una is now part of Israel. The kibbutz of Dishon was established near the site in 1953. Palestinian historian Walid Khalidi described the site in 1992 as being overgrown with thorns and weeds, with only a few houses and a school building remaining.