Ramla
From Free net encyclopedia
Ramla (Hebrew רמלה Ramlāh; Arabic الرملة ar-Ramlah, colloquial Ramleh), is a city in the Center District of Israel in Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2004 the city had a total population of 63,462.
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Demographics
According to CBS, in 2001 the ethnic makeup of the city was 80% Jewish and other non-Arab, and 20% Arab (16% Muslim and 4% Christian). There were 500 immigrant settlers. See Population groups in Israel.
According to CBS, in 2001 there were 32,000 males and 30,000 females. The population of the city was spread out with 36% 19 years of age or younger, 18% between 20 and 29, 19% between 30 and 44, 15% from 45 to 59, 3% from 60 to 64, and 9% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was 1.0%.
Income
According to CBS, as of 2000, in the city there were 21,000 salaried workers and 1,700 are self-employed. The mean monthly wage in 2000 for a salaried worker in the city is ILS 4,300, a real change of 4.4% over the course of 2000. Salaried males have a mean monthly wage of ILS 5,200 (a real change of 3.3%) versus ILS 3,300 for females (a real change of 6.3%). The mean income for the self-employed is 4,900. There are 1,100 people who receive unemployment benefits and 5,600 people who receive an income guarantee.
Education
According to CBS, there are 31 schools and 12,000 students in the city. They are spread out as 22 elementary schools and 7,700 elementary school students, and 9 high schools and 3,800 high school students. 47% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.
History
According to the 9th century Arab geographer Ya'qubi, al-Ramla (Ramle) was founded in 716 by the Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik, and its name was derived from the Arabic Raml – meaning sand. The initial population of persons moved from Ludd (Lydda, Lod). Ramle flourished as the capital of Jund Filastin, which was one of the five districts of the ash-Sham (Syrian) province of the Arab-Muslim empire. Ramla was the principal city and capital of the country from its birth until the advent of the Crusaders in the 11th Century.
An Arab geographer, el-Mukadassi ("the Jerusalemite"), describes Ramla at the peak of its prosperity: "It is a fine city, and well built; its water is good and plentiful; its fruits are abundant. It combines manifold advantages, situated as it is in the midst of beautiful villages and lordly towns, near to holy places and pleasant hamlets. Commerce here is prosperous, and the markets excellent...The bread is of the best and the whitest. The lands are well favoured above all others, and the fruits are the most luscious. This capital stands among fruitful fields, walled towns and servieable hospices...". Later the capital moved to Jerusalem and Ramle lost its political importance while remaining a major town. Its economic importance, shared with its near-neighbor Lydda, was based on its location at the intersection of Palestine's two major roads, one linking Egypt with Syria and the other linking Jerusalem with the coast.
After the First Crusade Ramle became the seat of a seigneury in the Kingdom of Jerusalem (the Lordship of Ramla within the County of Jaffa and Ascalon and it was a city of some economic significance and served as an important station for the pilgrims on their way to the Holy City. See also Vassals of the Kingdom of Jerusalem).
At the start of the Ottoman period, Ramle was described as a large town which lay mostly in ruins, with a small population. In the year 1548, it was recorded to have 528 Muslim and 82 Christian households. Not much change in this size or composition occurred until late in the 19th century, when a period of expansion began. During the British Mandate, the population grew steadily, up to about 12,000 Muslims and 3,000 Christians in 1944. Until 1948 there were very few Jewish inhabitants.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Ramle's geographical location (especially its position on the main supply route to the Jerusalem region) made it an inevitable point of conflict, and it was attacked by Jewish forces beginning in May. These initial attacks were unsuccessful, but a more determined attack during Operation Danny led to Ramle's capture on July 11-12, 1948. Most residents of the town fled. The only inhabitants who remained after the town's capture were about 400 Arabs, who were mostly either Christian or had had prior dealings with Jews.
The Israeli government immediately saw the nearly depopulated town as a source of housing for the many Jewish immigrants who were beginning to arrive, and started to use the abandoned houses for this purpose in November 1948. By February 1949 the Jewish population had passed 6,000. Nevertheless, Ramle and Lydda (now called Ramla and Lod) remained relatively economically depressed for the next two decades. The population in 1972 was 34,000.
Buildings
The Hospice of St. Nicodemus and St. Joseph of Arimathea in the main street, Herzl Avenue, is easily recognized by its clock-faced, square tower. It belonged to the Franciscan monks. It was used by Napoleon as staff headquarters when he attempted in vain to conquer Palestine from the Ottomans.