I'billin

I'billin (Hebrew: אעבלין‎, Arabic: إعبلين‎) is an Arab town in the Northern District of Israel, near Shefa-'Amr. In 2012, the population was 12,275. 'Ibillin was granted municipal status in 1960. The municipality's area is 18,000 dunams. The town has a mixed population of Muslims and Christians.

History

Archaeological excavations in the centre of the village has indicated a continuous inhabitation from the Iron Age (9th century BCE) to the Mamluk period (14th century CE).

Nasir Khusraw visited the place in 1047 C.E.: "From Damum we passed south to another village, called A'bilin, where there is the tomb of Hud -peace be upon him! -which I visited. Within the enclosure here is a mulberry tree, and there is likewise the tomb of the prophet Uzair -peace be upon him! -which I also visited."

Ottoman era

In 1760, a traveller between Acre and Nazareth noted "the castle of Abelin, on a beautiful eminence; and a town close to it, which is governed by Joseph Omar, brother of the chief of Acre". The castle, still standing in the town, is probably from the eighteenth century.