Jenin Its Past & Present

Jenin is akana’ni ancient and inveterate city, which is considered the most ancient one, after jericho Jerusalem and nablus it was founded in the year 2540 B.C its situation: - it stands at the southern head of the plain triangle, which is welknown as Marj Ibn A’mer whose area amounts 360 thousand donums. Jenin city together with its northern villages represent the majority of area thus Jenin city area alone amounts about 21 thousand donums on the other hand the name of Jenin was mentioned in the ancient Egyptian manuscripts and so it was in the babiliya’s and Ashuriya’s in addition to that in the torah (old testament) and the (Bible). Jenin is derived from the ancient Kana’ni name (Ain Ganeem ) since it is very near to the gardens and orchards with a lot of springs such as (Ain Neeni) and (Ain Shereef).

Jenin is considered the fifth one of places through which (Jesus) peace be upon him passed while coming from Burqen village where he had cured the ten leprous men who were isolated in acave at aside of the village and in the same place and in the beginning of the fourth sentury A.D the great Qustantin established the church of Burqeen known as (Ruhurjus) church and by the way the Holland government had carried out necessary repairs in this ancient holy building with coordination of the Antiquate is Department in the Palestinian National Authority as it is considered interested and formerly responsible about such matters Besides the place is the fifth of the holy and religious to the Christians in the previously mentioned period achurch was established in Jenin as one of (31)cities and (441)villages in the whole of Palestine lands this church remained standing in good condition until it was destroyed by an earthquake in (560)A.D. later on, and namely in A.D. 638, Jenin started aprosporous stage during the time of the Arab Islamic reign when the ummayad caliph Al-yazeed the third frequently used to visit it in the year A.D. 744 the situation of Jenin with its green fields orchards and water springs had prepared it to become collection point of providing services to the surrounding villages the waters of Al-muqata river were used operate some of the water mills which were used for grinding seeds for the citizens and villagers besides the water springs used to run through canals built with stony baskets which had arches this can give clear idea about the Archeological civilized and agricultural progress achieved.

The water mills in Jenin were:

1. AL-sabbahiya mill: it used to stand near the location of the first _Butchery _AL maslakh this was for some reason destroyed.
2. The city Mill: it used to stand behind Jenin second mosque which is known as _Assageer (the small).
3. The Mill of Um Al_Qanater (the Mill of the arches Mother) which used to stand to the north of the new Square in Al_Eeman street.
4. Al_ Majeediya Mill for some reason its had been wiped out at this point, we had better to refer that by this time the first municipality council of Jenin had been formed during the otmani Reign In the year 883, the mayor of jenin was Al-Haj Abdel majeed Abdel khaliq Moh Mansour and avet eas also appointed

GENERAL INDICATORS

1. The populations of the province of Jenin, amounts about (235) thousand inhabitants, distributed to (84) cities towns and village, Jenin city population is more than (33) thousand inhabitants, while Jenin refugee camp is about (33) thousand.
2. The number of municipalities in Jenin province is eleven now (5) out which are old and six have been newly formed after the coming of the Palestinian national Authority.
3. There are twelve mosques in Jenin, three of which are under foundation.
4. There are (48) charity associations, eleven of which are in Jenin.
5. There are (39) sport and cultural clubs.
6. There are threa ready working hospitals with staff of (30) doctors, besides twenty-five doctors working in the health department in Jenin.
7. In jenin province, there are (40) pharmacies, twenty of which are in Jenin City.

Dealing with the agricultural lands in Jenin district, they amount 75% of the West Bank Area distributed as the following table: -

1. (400.000) donums cultivated with vegetables.
2. (150.000) donumes cultivated with olive trees.
3. (200) donums planted with citrus fruit trees.
4. (5000) donums cultivated with almond trees.
5. (700) donums cultivated under hot plastic beds.

• Fattish khatoon Mosque which was established in the year A.D. 15666.
• Kanaani Bala’ma ruins, known as the Ruins of the tower or kufur yaroob, which is well known with its water tunnel.
• The Graveyard of the martyrs of the Iraqi Army, killed in jenin Battle, in 1948.
• The hill (attal) the location of the carrier pigeon post station and atower for watching.
• The Mill of Um Al-Qanater (arches).
• The Grave yard (the Eastern ) contains the tomb of the
• Leader Ez-Eddeen, one of the adjutants (assistants) of Salah Eddeen Al-ayyoobi.
• The tombs of Al-tarabay Al-harithi, in the (17) the century B.C.
• The tomb of sheikh Ghanayim Al –Majdoobi AL –Ajlooni .
• The German pilots Monument in 1917.
• The ruins of Military Idone line Second World War.
• The holy places of the saints and the virtuous.
• Sheikh Hassan Khuraqa –Jabal Abu Duheir.
• Sheikh Ayoob in (harit Addabi)- steep hill.
• There are also remarkable, which unfortunately become ruins, such as Aaba ruins the public Bath with the othmani design and the pool of sheikh –known as pool of AL-Basateen (orchards).