When the village – which is set in the foothills
of Mount Carmel, in the hinterland
between the coastal cities of Acer
and Haifa, and blessed with seven springs –
had been ethnically cleansed, its villagers
exiled or unaccounted for, its name changed,
it became an artists’ colony,
attracting painters, sculptors, musicians,
composers, poets, playwrights, novelists,
film makers from all over the nascent state.
The pristine forests of native pine, oak,
alder, laurel, it was surrounded by,
were replaced with stands of European trees.
The stone houses were refurbished or razed;
the school became an exhibition centre;
the mosque a café called ‘Bonanza’.
The original village was founded,
it is said, by one of Saladin’s
commanders. Its abundant harvests
of wheat, sesame, carob – sheltered
from the prevailing north westerly winds
by the surrounding woodland, watered
by the perpetual seven springs – were sold
for centuries in the ancient markets
of Haifa and Acer.
By David Selzer