- published: 30 May 2012
- views: 796
Afula (Hebrew: עֲפוּלָה; Arabic: العفولة, al-ʻAfūlaḧ) is a city in the North District of Israel, often known as the "Capital of the Valley", referring to the Jezreel Valley. The city had a population of 40,500 at the end of 2009.
Located in the Jezreel Valley, Afula is roughly halfway between Jenin and Nazareth. It is mentioned in the Books of Kings (2 Kings 5, 24) in connection with Elisha and the disciple of Elijah, who lived in the vicinity.
The 12th-century sultan Saladin founded an Arab village named al-Fulah on the site. In 1226, Syrian geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi mentioned it as being "a town in Jund Filastin," and formerly a Crusader castle between Zir'in and Nazareth. In 1799, during Napoleon's Syrian campaign, the Battle of Mount Tabor was fought around al-Fulah.
In 1909 or 1910, Yehoshua Hankin completed his first major purchase in the Jezreel Valley. He bought some 10,000 dunams (10 km²) of land in Al-Fuleh (now Afula), which became the home of Merhavia and Tel Adashim. This purchase also marked the start of bitter disputes between Arabs and Jews over the rights of tenant farmers who had been evicted, and regarding the employment of Jewish or Arab watchmen for the land.
to all the years full of front porch stories
failed plans and procrastination
to r.a.g.n. sowing what others may implore
i've been broke and forlorn and caught out with the best at acca yard
oh it just goes to show, to desert friends like these streets
i would be crazy
to all the years full of backyard parties
winters in hibernation
to assaulting views with dominion at our door
healing but scarred
there's bullet holes in a porch in jackson ward
oh it just goes to show, to desert friends like these streets
i would be crazy
it goes to show, to dessert friends like these streets
i would be crazy
i sat back to consider what has been within a decade counted
should i fly? should i settle?
will i find peace in time, in the face of growing old?
to all the years full of untold stories
futures free of isolation
to all those gone who in thought and heart live on
on and on you never gave up and i got this far
oh it just goes to show, with friends like these to leave
i would be crazy
it goes to show, with friends like these to leave