Auja al-Hafir

Auja al-Hafir (

A‘waj means "bent" in Arabic, and "Al-Auja" is a common name for meandering streams (the Yarkon River in Israel and a smaller stream near Jericho on the West Bank both are called Al-Auja in Arabic).

"Hafir" means a water reservoir built to catch runoff water at the base of a slope; in Sudan it can also mean a drainage ditch.

History

2nd century BCE to 7th century CE

Pottery remains found in the area date back to the 2nd century BC. and are associated with the traces of massive foundations of an unknown building probably of

'Auja al-Hafir lay in a tract of 604 dunams privately owned by the Turkish sultan Abdul Hamid II.^[10] After the establishment of Beersheba as the main regional center, the governor of Jerusalem Ekram Bey planned for a new city at al-Hafir, 10km to the west of 'Auja, but decided to establish it instead at 'Auja and give it the combined name of 'Auja al-Hafir.^[10] A new Kaza was established there.^[10][11] A barracks, inn and a government office were built,^[10] and a police station was raised in 1902.^[12] From 1905 to 1915 the Ottoman authorities built a railroad, as well as a large administrative centre complete with an apartment building for the clerks.^[13]

However, the town didn't develop until it became an outpost on the Egyptian front during World War I.^[10] In mid-January, 1915, a Turkish Army force of 20,000 entered Sinai by way of El-Auja on an unsuccessful expedition against the Suez Canal.^[14] At this time most of the dressed stone was taken from the ancient buildings for building work in Gaza.^[9]

British Mandate

Significance

The central route across the desert to the Suez Canal crossed from El Auja to Ismailia, until 1948 this was the only paved road between Palestine and Egypt.^[15]

Population; partition plan

During the British Mandate of Palestine, El Auja was part of the District of Beersheba.^[16]

According to the 1931 census Auja al-Hafir had a population of 29 inhabitants, all Muslims, living in 9 houses, in addition to 35 people living at the police post.^[17]

An elementary school was established by the Mandate Government, but closed in 1932 due to insufficient and irregular attendance.^[18] It was reopened in 1945 at tribal expense and had 23 pupils.^[18]

In 1947, 'Auja al-Hafir was granted an official Town Planning Scheme.^[19]

According to the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine, the area was designated as part of the Arab state.

Arab revolt; prison camp

The local population were not involved in the disturbances of 1929 and 1936 but there was some disorder in the summer of 1938.^[20]

At the start of the 1936 disturbances the British Mandate authorities used Auja as a prison camp for arrested Palestinian Arab leaders including Awny Abdul Hadi. It was also used to hold Jewish Communists who were being deported. The prisoners were later transferred to the army base at Sarafand.^[21]

1948 Arab–Israeli War

In 1948 the Egyptian Army used the area as a military base.^{[citation needed]} In the Battle of 'Auja, a campaign of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, it was captured by the 89th Mechanized Commando Battalion of Israel, which had an English-speaking platoon of volunteers from England, Germany, the Netherlands, Rhodesia, South Africa, and the U.S.^[22]

DMZ and Israeli control

As a result of the

Between 1956 and the 1967 Six-Day War, the DMZ and the border were monitored by the United Nations Emergency Force.

Israel has controlled the area since 1967, and has there a large military base and a detention camp, the Ktzi'ot Prison.

See also

• Nitzana Border Crossing
• Battles of Bir 'Asluj
• Nitzana (Nabataean city)

• Operation Volcano

References