Tubas

:"Tubas is also the plural form of Tuba, a musical instrument."Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Tubas

---

imgsize=250
caption=Tubas skyline
arname=طوباس
meaning=
founded=
type=muna
typefrom=
altOffSp=Toubas
altUnoSp=Tubass
governorate=tb
latd=32|latm=19|lats=00.00|latNS=N
longd=35|longm=22|longs=08.38|longEW=E
population=16,100
popyear=2006
area=295,123
areakm=295.1
mayor=Auqab Daraghma

Tubas ( _ar. طوباس, "Tubâs") is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank located 21 kilometers northeast of Nablus, on the road to Jenin, a few kilometers west of the Jordan River. It is currently under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority and is the "muhfaza" (seat) of the Tubas Governorate. The city had a population of approximately 16,100 in mid-year 2006. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop02.aspx Projected Mid -Year Population for Tubas District by Locality 2004- 2006] ]

It was annexed by Jordan during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War as was all of the West Bank. While in Jordanian control it was a part of the Nablus Governorate until 1967 after its capture by Israeli forces in the Six-Day War.

History

The city's name "Tubas" derives from the Canaanite word "Tubas Svoys" or "illuminating star". Tubas was confirmed by Edward Robinson to be the Biblical town of "Thepaz". Here, Abimelech of Shechem was killed by a stone thrown by a woman during his siege of the town.Robinson, Edward. Smith, Eli. (1856). " [http://books.google.com/books?id=sEB2R6FsJAkC&pg=PA305&dq=Tubas+Palestine&lr=#PPA305,M1 Later Biblical Researches in Palestine and the Adjacent Regions: A Journal of Travels in the Year 1852] " J. Murray, pp.305-306.] Archaeological remains such as cemeteries and olive presses indicate that Tubas was inhabited during the Roman era of rule in Palestine. [http://proxy.arij.org/tubas/static/localities/profiles/109_profile.pdf Tubas City Profile] Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem. February 2006.]

The modern city was founded in the late 1800s, when groups of Arabs belonging to the Daraghmeh clan of shepherds and farmers — who lived in the Jordan Valley — migrated westward to the site because it was fertile, near several springs and was elevated; Mount Gerizim was visible from the area. In the next 100 years, Arabs from Najd, Syria, Jordan and nearby Nablus came to settle the area. During this period, Tubas became the site of clashes between the 'Abd al-Hadi and Tuqan clans of Nablus and suffered incursions by Bedouins from areas east of the city. [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22097/22097-h/22097-h.htm#page92 Byeways in Palestine] (2007) Finn, James. James Nisbet & Co: pp.92-93]

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Fawzi al-Qawuqji led 750 Arab Liberation Army soldiers to Tubas from Jordan and set up base there.Pipes, Daniel. (1990). " [http://books.google.com/books?id=J3PsAb1uV94C&pg=PA57&dq=Tubas+Palestine&sig=ACfU3U1kf9E0dzEfwLCnSL-hUvTLQ-p6BA#PPA57,M1 Greater Syria: The History of an Ambition] " Middle East Forum, p.57.]

Demographics

Tubas had a population of 3,349 in 1922 which rose to 4,097 in 1931, according to a British Mandate census. In Sami Hadawi's 1945 land and population survey, Tubas and nearby Bardala had a combined population of 5,530. [ [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20I/Nablus/Page-061.jpgNablus District Stats] from [http://www.palestineremembered.com/Articles/General-2/Story3150.html Village Statistics of 1945: A Classification of Land and Area ownership in Palestine] (1970) Hadawi, Sami. The Palestine Liberation Organization Research Center] About 1,100 residents fled Tubas after the 1967 Six-Day War, while 260 emigrated there and in 1981 its population 5,300. [ [http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/Tubas_1653/index.html Welcome to Tubas] British Mandate Census via PalestineRemembered.]

In the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics' first official census in 1997, Tubas had a population of 11,760 inhabitants. The gender make-up was 50.8% male and 49.2% female. Tubas has an overwhelmingly young population with 52.7% of the city's residents below the age of 20. People between the ages of 20-34 constitute 24.7%, between the ages of 35 and 64 constitute 17.7% of the population while 4.9% are above the age of 64. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/phc_97/tub_t1.aspx Palestinian Population by Locality, Sex and Age Groups in Years] (1997) Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.] The census also revealed that 6.1% of the city's residents were refugees. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/phc_97/tub_t6.aspx Palestinian Population by Locality and Refugee Status] (1997) Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.]

In the PCBS' latest projection, Tubas had a population of 16,087 inhabitants in mid-year 2006, increasing by 32.6% from 1997 and 3.2% from 2005. The city represents roughly a third (33.4%) of the Tubas Governorate's total population. The city's original inhabitants — the Daraghma family — constitute 70% of Tubas, while the Sawafta make-up 25%, the Husheh make-up 3% and the Fuquha represent the remaining 2%.

The great majority of Tubas adheres to Islam, but there are some Christian families.

Economy

According to the PCBS, in 1999, approximately 52% of the citizens are within the working age (15-64). Of the city's labor force, 48% are females. [idrinfo.idrc.ca/archive/corpdocs/119922/Word/6-119922-Chapter04.doc Spatial and Socioeconomic analysis at micro level: Tubas city, population, living conditions, and urban trends] Palestinian Ministry of Local Government (MLG). MLG cites the mayor and municipal council of Tubas and the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]

The economical situation of the city, during the 1993-99 period, was prosperous, however since the start of the al-Aqsa Intifada in 2000-01, Tubas' income level has decreased by 70%. A major factor that has resulted from the uprising was the confiscation of agricultural land located within the city's or its governorate's jurisdiction by Israeli settlements or military authorities. Unemployment rate increased dramatically from 20% in 1999 to 70% after the year 2000. Prior to the Intifada, 35% of the total labor force worked in Israel. [http://www.hwc-pal.org/toubas.htm Toubas] (2005) Health Work Committees.]

Currently, agriculture constitutes 60% of Tubas' economic activity, public services comprise 17%, trade is 10%, Israeli labor is 8%, construction and industry make-up the remaining 5%. In the city, there are 240 shops and stores, 70 service institutions and 30 small factories.

The main economic sector in Tubas is agriculture. There is a total of 150,000 dunams of arable land, of which 124,450 dunams are occupied by forests and 10,604 dunams are cultivated. Field crops account for 49% of the cultivable land, while fruit orchards account for 40% and vegetables make-up 11%. Israeli trenches around the neighboring villages of Ras al-Ahmar and Khirbet al-'Atuf prevent access to nearly 40% of Tubas' arable lands.

Government

Tubas has been governed by a municipal council since 1953, when it was granted permission to do by Jordanian authorities who controlled the West Bank at the time. The council is made up of 15 members including the mayor and is headquartered in the municipal hall in the center of the town. The municipality has over 60 employees.

Local infrastructure

Education

In 2004, Tubas had nine schools, 4,511 students and 191 teachers. The illiteracy rate was 14%. The city also contains five health centers run by various organizations including the Palestinian Red Crescent. There are three kindergartens, three elementary schools, two secondary schools and one high school. The al-Quds Open University also has a campus in Tubas.

Health services

There are no hospitals in Tubas, nor in the Tubas Governorate; Residents must travel to Nablus for hospital treatment, but there are two ambulances in Tubas for emergency transportation. There are four clinics in the city: Two are run by NGOs, one by the PNA and one is privately-owned. The clinics lack modern equipment and specialists, however. In addition, ten pharmacies exist in Tubas.

Public structures

Tubas contains six mosques. The main mosques are the Abd ar-Rahan Mosque, the al-Tawled Mosque, Umar ibn al-Khattab Mosque, Shaheed Mosque. There is also a Greek Orthodox monastery in the northern part of the city. The Sawafta family has an old palace in the city as well.

References

External links

* [http://www.humanitarianinfo.org/opt/OCHA_Body-ASP_Files/Coordination_Sec/OCHA-oPt_FCU_BIOs_PDFs/OCHA-oPt_Tubas-FCU_Bio_Data-22Nov04.pdf Tubas (pdf file)]