'Arab al-Zubayd

The village of Arab al-Zubayd was located just west of the main Metulla–Safad–Tiberias road, at the lower slopes of the Upper Galilee mountains, descending toward the al-Hula Plain. The village benefited from the abundance of springs within its territory, particularly in the north and northeast. These springs collectively formed the al-Barid River, which flowed into the Hula marshes.

The name of the village suggests that its inhabitants—all of whom were Muslim—belonged to the Banu al-Zubayd tribe. The village's economy was primarily based on grain cultivation. According to 1944–1945 statistics, a total of 1,761 dunums were devoted to cereal production.

Occupation and Ethnic Cleansing of the Village

The village's location places it within the operational zone of Operation Yiftach. Israeli historian Benny Morris notes that the villagers fled on April 20, 1948, fearing an impending Jewish attack. If accurate, this would place their departure at the beginning of the operation, prior to the assault on Safad and before any other villages in the area were occupied.

The village’s subsequent fate is telling. Several months later, in August 1948, while units from the Golani Brigade were preparing to demolish the village, a complaint was received from residents of the Sha'ar HaAmakim kibbutz, who opposed the destruction of Arab al-Zubayd. Morris suggests that they may have objected because they were supporters of Aharon Cohen, the director of the Arab Affairs Department of the left-wing Mapam Party.

The matter escalated to the extent that it was raised during a session of the Israeli government, in which Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion reportedly denied any personal responsibility, stating: "I did not give any commander the permission to destroy the houses." He promised an investigation—according to Morris. However, the outcry led only to a delay of several months in the village’s destruction and did not result in the return of its original residents. As Morris concludes, “In the absence of such a return, the fate of the village was sealed.”

The Village Today

Nothing remains of Arab al-Zubayd except scattered ruins, now overgrown with trees, shrubs, and thorny vegetation. Irrigation canals still utilize the village's former water sources. The adjacent hilly terrain is used for grazing livestock, while part of the nearby plain has been converted into an Israeli nature reserve. The remaining land is currently cultivated by Israeli farmers.

Israeli Settlements on Village Lands

There are no Israeli settlements established on the lands of Arab al-Zubayd.