Subdistrict: Tulkarm
Population in 1944/45: 970
Estimated population in 1948: 1,125
Date of depopulation: 20 March 1948
Locality established nearby before 1948: Netanya, founded in 1929 west of the village; its later expansion absorbed most of Umm Khalid’s lands.
Localities later covering parts of the village lands: Netanya and Sha'ar Hefer.
Umm Khalid was a Palestinian village in the Tulkarm Subdistrict during the British Mandate. It stood approximately 15 kilometres west of Tulkarm and less than two kilometres east of the Mediterranean coast. The village was depopulated in March 1948, and its site and much of its land were subsequently absorbed into the expanding city of Netanya.
Boundaries and Surrounding Localities
Umm Khalid lay among the following villages, localities, and lands:
- North: Wadi al-Hawarith.
- Northwest: Wadi Qabbani.
- West: Netanya.
- South: Bayyarat Hannun.
- Southeast: Qalansuwa.
Population of Umm Khalid
The inhabitants were predominantly Muslim. Many had moved to Umm Khalid from other villages in the Tulkarm Subdistrict in search of agricultural work. The 1931 census recorded 586 residents—580 Muslims and 6 Christians—living in 131 houses; these figures included Arab al-Balawina. The official 1944/45 statistics recorded 970 residents, comprising 960 Muslims and 10 Christians.
Population and Depopulation
Umm Khalid had 970 inhabitants in the official 1944/45 statistics. Its 1948 population is commonly estimated at 1,125; the figure is an estimate rather than a census count. An Israeli military intelligence report cited by historians dates the village’s evacuation to 20 March 1948. Netanya had been founded nearby in 1929, west of Umm Khalid, and its later urban expansion absorbed most of the village lands. Parts of the lands were also incorporated into Sha'ar Hefer.
Built Environment
The village had a rectangular layout extending from north to south. Its closely clustered houses were constructed of stone and mud and separated by narrow alleys. At the centre of the village stood a mosque, an elementary school for boys, and four shops selling groceries and textiles.
Economic Life
Agriculture formed the mainstay of the village economy. The inhabitants cultivated watermelons, citrus fruit, vegetables, and cereals. In 1944/45, 47 dunams were devoted to citrus and bananas, while 1,830 dunams of Palestinian-owned land were planted with cereals. The villagers also raised livestock and produced dairy products, including milk and cheese.
Land Ownership in Umm Khalid
| Ownership category | Area (dunams)* |
|---|---|
| Palestinian ownership | 1,923 |
| Jewish ownership | 882 |
| Public land | 89 |
| Total | 2,894 |
* One dunam equals approximately 1,000 square metres.
Land Use in 1944/45
| Land-use category | Palestinian ownership (dunams)* | Jewish ownership (dunams)* | Public land (dunams)* | Total (dunams)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citrus and bananas | 47 | 0 | 0 | 47 |
| Cereal cultivation | 1,830 | 882 | 0 | 2,712 |
| Built-up area | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Cultivable land | 1,877 | 882 | 0 | 2,759 |
| Uncultivated land | 23 | 0 | 89 | 112 |
* One dunam equals approximately 1,000 square metres. Cultivable and uncultivated totals are aggregate categories and should not be added again to their component uses.
Population of Umm Khalid
| Year | Population | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 307 | British Mandate census |
| 1931 | 586 | British Mandate census; includes Arab al-Balawina |
| 1944/45 | 970 | Official village statistics |
| 1948 | 1,125 | Estimate |
| Estimated refugees in 1998 | 6,910 | Demographic estimate |
Archaeological Remains
Archaeological finds in and around the village included the remains of towers and fortifications, as well as wells, reservoirs, cisterns, and pottery. Flint tools found near the site suggest possible habitation from prehistoric times. The site also contained the remains of the Crusader-period Lombard Castle of Roger.
Location of Umm Khalid
The village stood on a sandstone hill less than two kilometres east of the Mediterranean shore. The Tulkarm–Netanya road passed to its south, while the Haifa–Jaffa road ran to the east. Umm Khalid occupied a relatively elevated position on the Palestinian coastal plain, approximately 25 metres above sea level, which offered some protection from flooding.
Its fertile lands benefited from abundant groundwater. Wadi al-Hawarith lay to the north, Khirbat Bayt Lid to the east, and Netanya to the west and south. Jewish settlements established in the wider surrounding area before 1948 included Kfar Haim and Beit Yitzhak.
Area of Umm Khalid
The village lands covered a total of 2,894 dunams. Of this total, 1,923 dunams were under Palestinian ownership, 882 dunams under Jewish ownership, and 89 dunams were classified as public land, including roads and wadis. The soil was fertile, and groundwater was readily available.
* One dunam equals approximately 1,000 square metres.
Occupation and Depopulation
According to an Israeli military intelligence report, Umm Khalid was evacuated on 20 March 1948 amid a general climate of fear. Historian Benny Morris notes that several villages north of Tel Aviv underwent similar processes as attacks intensified during the early weeks of the war. The coastal area contained a dense concentration of Jewish settlements and was regarded by the Zionist leadership as central to the territory of the proposed Jewish state. In that context, the removal of Arab residents before 15 May was considered desirable by that leadership. The consulted academic reference does not identify a specific assault on Umm Khalid, a named military unit, or a discrete military operation as the direct cause of its depopulation.
Umm Khalid Today
The village site is now part of Netanya. Some village houses have survived and have been used as residences or for commercial purposes, including warehouses operated by Israeli companies. Nearby land has been planted with citrus trees.
Netanya, founded in 1929 approximately one kilometre west of the village, later expanded across most of Umm Khalid’s lands. Gan Hefer, founded in 1940, and Nira, founded in 1941, were merged in 1953 to form Sha'ar Hefer, which covers part of the village lands.
Neighbouring Localities
Wadi al-Hawarith and Kfar Haim lay to the north; Beit Yitzhak and Khirbat Bayt Lid lay to the east; and the lands of Netanya extended to the south and west.
