Al-Mujaydil

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al-Mujaydil
Arabic	المْجيدل
District	Nazareth
Population	1,900 (1945)
Jurisdiction	18,836 dunams (18.8 km²)
Date of depopulation	July 15, 1948
Cause(s) of depopulation	Explusion by Jewish forces
Current localities	Migdal HaEmek, Yifat

Al-Mujaydil (Arabic: المْجيدل‎ was a former Palestinian village located 6km southwest of Nazareth. Al-Mujaydil was on of a few towns that achieved local council status by the British Mandate of Palestine government. In 1945, the village had a population of 1,900 and total land area of 18,836 dunams - mostly Arab-owned. The population was almost entirely Christian and the town contained a Roman Catholic church and monastery.

[edit] Capture by Israelis

Al-Mujaydil was captured by the Haganah's Golani Brigade during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War on July 15, 1948. Most of the population fled to the nearby city of Nazareth, where they live as internal refugees. According to Walid Khalidi, the only remaining structures are the church and monastery, and the land is mostly covered by various orchards or used for an Israeli park. In addition, the Israeli towns of Migdal HaEmek (founded by Iranian Jews) and Yifat are located upon al-Mujaydil's jurisdiction.