Dir Al-Asad (07.01.43)

Translation with [comments]

[Still there today.]

Built on an ancient Roman ruin. Formerly called Dir Hana, there was a big monastery there. 300 years ago, a man came to the monastery called al-Asad. He and his men settled in the village and expelled the hermits, and since then al-Asad died and was buried there - the village is called after him. Al-Asad was survived by four sons: Na'ama Muhamad al-Asadi who remained in the village, the second lived in the village of Sha'ab [see file], the third in Safed and the fourth is unknown. The village is 150 m away from al-Ba'ena [see file].

Water a water spring south-east of the village, with 4 inches of water. In winter water is plentiful, but in summer only a daily 30 cans are available. There are no wells. There are ancient holes. The cattle is watered at the al-Ba'ena reservoir.

Roads there is a road to the village that branches off the main Acre-Safed road, about 3 km away. The internal ways are in good condition in winter too but they are narrow. The village is built at the foot of the mountain. There are ways east to Nahaf [see file], south to al-Ba'ena, north to Qasra [see file], west to Majd Al-Krum [see file].

Buildings stone, loam and lime. There is one dome from the ruins of the monastery. The few new houses - stone and cement. The fences - prickly pear and brambles.

There are no wadis.

[Khirbes] There is a khirba to the south - Qalat Ayn al-Tahtah; another khirba called Khirbat al-Maahuz, in this khirba there are good houses. The farmers use them for the goats in winter and as a barn.

Livestock 300 heads of cattle, 700 goats, 1000 chickens.

Land 3000 dunam, plain and mountain all mafruza [divided]. To the north - mountain, still musha'a [shared] - plantations: olive groves from Roman times as well as forests, and vines and figs too.

They do field crops and grow olives and some tobacco.

There are no land owning effendis. Division of land by family: al-'Asadia a thousand dunams, al-Dabah a thousand dunams, Mustafa al-Musa 500 dunam and the rest to the other families. The land is in one continuous stretch. There are families with no land, they work for the other families.

There has been land development - planting of olives and vines in new areas. There are no irrigated plots. They have not received land from the government. There are no ties with the waqf. The village has no land elsewhere.

Residents number of men 18-48 years old about 350.

Families

1. Al-Asadiya, 700 members, headed by Mahmud Sa'id al-Khatib al-Asadi.

2. Al-Dabah, 200 members, headed by Fathi al-Din Al-Dabah.

3. Mustafa al-Musa, 120 members, headed by Hasan Mustafa al-Musa.

These families are ancient, from 300 years ago. It is said that the al-Asadiya family, after the death of its founder, all became Derwishes (members of a Sufi order)- grew beards, dressed in religious attire, went around the villages and preached religion, until they became rulers of Dir al-Asad and the neighbouring villages.

Relations with the neighbouring villages are not good, especially with the residents of al-Ba'ena.

The al-Dabah family, though rich in money and men, is not loath to stealing of the produce of their neighbours. Relations in the village are not good either due to the thefts.

The Mukhtars Mahmud Sa'id al-Khatib al-Asadi, first mukhtar, 5 years. Muhi Al-Din al-Dabah, since 13 years. The Village Committee: Mahmud Sa'id al-Khatib, Muhi al-Din al-Dabah, Hasan Mustafa al-Musa.

[Schools] There is no school - the children learnt in the school of al-Ba'ena.

There are no artisans, all are farmers, except an electrician, Mas'ud al-Dabah.

[Shops] There are 3 shops. Their owners ply their trade and farm.

[Employment] There are no government officials, no railway workers, public works employees etc.

A few moved to Acre for work.

[Guesthouses] Every family has a private guesthouse.

Expenditure money is collected among them as needed. 

There are no relatives of note.

[Jews] There are no ties with Jews.

[Mosques] There is a mosque in the south of the village with the tomb of the founding father of the al-Asadiya family. Members of the family perform the services there.

[Guards] There are no recruits or guards.

Village Guard: the villagers appoint guards during the seasons.

Relations with the authorities are currently good.

Debts: the Al-Dabah family lends with interest to the villagers and to neighbouring villages. The interest rate is 60%.

[Smuggling] There are currently no smugglers.

The Village during the Troubles [the Arab Revolt] the village's commander was 'Adel al-Dabah. A month ago, he was turned in to the government in the presence of the governor and the regional officer, in a full-scale party and is today in jail. The villagers acted under his command.

The army killed no one. The terrorists murdered Yasin al-Asadi for refusing to help them, and charged him with treason against the nation.

Arrests: the government arrested 25 people for periods of between a week and three months.

The government confiscated 15 rifles. The amount of weapons present today is unknown.

Damages: even though the army clashed with the villagers no one was killed, and nothing was ruined and no fine was exacted.

There are no deportees.