Dir Al-Qasi 08.01.43

Translation with [comments]

[Occupied and destroyed on 30 October 1948.] 

Established on an ancient Roman settlement.

Water one water spring to the east of the village, called Ayn al-Fakhra, bountiful, drawn by buckets. There are many holes to collect rainwater, and a water reservoir east of the village for watering the herds and the gardens.

Roads the internal roads are unpaved but in good condition in rainy days due to the altitude of the village. The Acre-Safed highway passes west of the village. The village is reached by cars and buses.

Buildings stone and loam. The new buildings are stone and concrete.

Wadis to the south Wadi al-Habis, to the west Wadi al-Karn.

Khirbes to the south of the village a khirba called Sablan with 20 houses. Falahin [farmers] live there. In the khirba is a holy place. 

Livestock 800 heads of cattle, 1500 goats, 2000 chickens.

Land ten thousand dunams; mainly plain with some mountain terrain. All the land is divided. The soil is red.

Plantations olives, figs and fruit. Employed mainly with field crops, tobacco, olives and fruit.

There are no landowning effendis. Average family holding about 100 dunam. There are no families without land.

There has been development in tobacco sowing. This year about 1000 dunams of tobacco were sown. The tobacco is watered from the holes, the reservoir and Wadi al-Habis. Have not received land from the government. There are no ties with the waqf. The village has no other land elsewhere.

Residents the residents number 3500 all Muslim. Men aged 18-48 - 500.

Families

1. Ma'aurf and Samiya, 300 people, headed by Ghanem Ma'aruf.

2. Al-Sadeq, 150 people, leader Majid al-Sadeq.

Relations between the families are good as are relations with neighbouring villages.

Mukhtar Ghanem Ma'aruf has been for the past 30 years and all are happy with him. The other mukhtar, Majid al-Sadeq, has been serving for the past 20 years and is also accepted by all.

Village Committee Muhamad Abdallah - chairman, Sa'id Mahamud, Sa'id 'Abed al-Rahim, Ghanem Ma'aruf and Majid al-Sadeq - members, elected by the residents.

[Schools] There is a government school of 4 classes with 70 pupils. The headmaster is Muhamad Rida Abu al-Yusuf of Tarshiha. The teacher is 'Ali Yasin of al-Halza (the Hula) [namely coming from the Hula Valley, possibly]. The residents share the costs. 

[Artisans] There are no artisans.

[Shops] There are 4 shops. The owners are: Khalil Zaher, Jaber Ahmad al-Husayn, Jamil Orfal, Fares Hasan, work both in trade and agriculture.

[Employment] There are no government officials, railway workers. Have not migrated into towns. There are no guesthouses.

Public Expenditure the residents levy an annual 100 EIL [Palestine pounds] with which they support the school, pay the sheikhs in the mosques and for building projects in the village.

There are no relatives of consequence and influence.

Ties with Jews there are Jews in their neighbourhood but no ties with them. There are no workers or guards for the Jews.

There is a mosque in the eastern quarter, the preacher is Sheikh Yusuf, of the village. A second mosque in the western quarter, the preacher Sheikh Muhi al-Din 'Abed al-Rahim of the village. The villagers built the mosques with their own money.

[Guards] One person enlisted to the army.

There is no permanent guard - each year one is appointed for the season.

Relations with the authorities are currently good.

The villagers owe no money.

[Smuggling] There are about 20 people involved in smuggling between Erez Israel, Syria and Lebanon. The best known: Sa'id Asad and Salah al-Anis.

The Troubles [The Arab Revolt] all residents took part in the uprising under the command of Mahmoud Ibrahim of the village.

One man was killed when the army encircled the village, by the name of Ahmad Sa'ud. He was escaping the village with armed men, was shot at and killed. None were killed by the gangs. There were only a few arrests for no longer than two months. There were no harsh verdicts.

After the uprising the government confiscated 60 rifles from the village.

The amount still present - is unknown.

There were slight damages during the encircling of the village by the army.

There are no deportees.