Eilabun

Eilabun (Arabic: عيلبون‎ Ailabun, Hebrew: עַילַבּוּן, עֵילַבּוּ‎) is an Israeli-Arab local council in Israel's North District, located in the Beit Netofa Valley. According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Eilabun had a population of 4,400 inhabitants in 2005. The population is predominantly Christian. In 1973, Eilabun achieved local council status by the Israeli government.

Overview

Eilabun is a small town in the Galilee 15 kilometres (9 miles) south-west of Safad in Northern Israel, consisting of a Christian and Muslim Arabic population, with Christians consisting of approximately 70% of the town's total population.

Etymology

According to the Survey of Western Palestine, the name Eilabun comes from Arabic, meaning "hard, rocky ground." An Israeli theory is that the place was built on the ancient site of "Ailabu" (Hebrew: עַיְלַבּוּ‎), a possible variation of the name Ein Levon.

History

Pottery remains from the Middle Bronze Age, Iron Age II, Persian, early Roman and from the Byzantine era have been excavated.