al-Majdal, Khirbat

The village of al-Majdal was located on the western shore of Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee), at the southern edge of the Ghuweir Abu Shusha Plain, at the base of a mountain rising sharply from the plain to an elevation of approximately 380 meters. It was connected to the city of Tiberias via a main road that curved along the shoreline of the lake.

It is likely that al-Majdal was the same ancient town mentioned in the New Testament, associated with Mary Magdalene. In the Talmud, it was referred to as Migdal Nunayya, known as a center for fishing and fish salting. During the Roman period, it was known as Taricheae, a fortified and flourishing Jewish town renowned for weaving, dyeing, and fishing industries.

In 1821, the traveler Burckhardt noted that the village was in a dilapidated condition. By the late 19th century, al-Majdal was described as a stone-built village in a plain of which portions were cultivated, with an estimated population of 80.

Village Structure and Daily Life

In modern times, the village had a rectangular layout, with most houses clustered together, though a few were dispersed to the north along the lakefront. Buildings were constructed from stone, cement, and mud, with some roofs made of wood and reeds, covered with a layer of mud. Al-Majdal was the smallest village in the Tiberias subdistrict in terms of area.

The residents—all of whom were Muslim—had a religious shrine known as Maqam Muhammad al-Ajami, located on the northern edge of the village atop the mountain west of the site. In the vicinity were also the ruins of the Crusader-era fortress of al-Majdal, later known as Qal‘at Na‘la.

Approximately one kilometer south of the village, near the lake shore, stood a black pierced stone, mentioned by Arab travelers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Folklore attributed the holes in the stone to the actions of ants, hence the name “Stone of the Ant” (Hajar al-Namla).

The village economy was primarily agricultural, focusing on cereal grains and vegetables. In 1944–1945, 41 dunums were planted with citrus and bananas, while 17 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards. Evidence in the village indicated that it had been inhabited in ancient times.

Occupation and Depopulation

The only Israeli source referencing the fall of al-Majdal states that its residents departed on April 22, 1948. According to Israeli historian Benny Morris, the displacement of the population was partly due to a military assault, and partly due to the demoralization following the fall of the nearby city of Tiberias on April 18, 1948.

It is likely that Haganah forces stationed in Tiberias seized control of the village shortly after capturing the city.

The Village Today

Ruins are scattered throughout the site, along with thistles and several palm and olive trees. The only remaining landmark is the neglected Maqam Muhammad al-Ajami, a small square structure with a whitewashed dome.

The surrounding land is now cultivated by Israelis.

Zionist Settlements on Village Lands

The settlement of Migdal (grid ref. 197249) was established in 1910 on land purchased by Zionists, approximately 1.5 kilometers northwest of the village site. After 1948, the settlement was expanded to accommodate Jewish immigrants, and its population grew from 213 in 1948 to 830 by 1983. As part of this expansion, it spread into the lands of al-Majdal.