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'''Galilee''' (''Hebrew'': הגליל‎ HaGalil, lit: the province, Ancient [[Greek]]: Γαλιλαία, [[Latin]]: Galileia, Arabic: الجليل‎ al-Jalīl), is a large region in northern [[Israel]] which overlaps with much of the [[administrative]] North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee (Hebrew: גליל עליון‎ Galil [[El Elyon|Elyon]]), Lower Galilee (Hebrew: גליל תחתון‎ Galil Tahton), and Western Galilee (Hebrew: גליל מערבי‎ Galil Ma'aravi), extending from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_(biblical_city) Dan] to the north, at the base of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hermon Mount Hermon], along [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lebanon Mount Lebanon] to the ridges of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Carmel Mount Carmel] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Mount Gilboa] to the south, and from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Rift_Valley Jordan Rift Valley] to the east across the plains of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel_Valley Jezreel Valley] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acre,_Israel Acre] to the shores of the [[Mediterranean]] Sea and the Coastal Plain in the west.

'''Galilee''' (''Hebrew'': הגליל‎ HaGalil, lit: the province, Ancient [[Greek]]: Γαλιλαία, [[Latin]]: Galileia, Arabic: الجليل‎ al-Jalīl), is a large region in northern [[Israel]] which overlaps with much of the [[administrative]] North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee (Hebrew: גליל עליון‎ Galil [[El Elyon|Elyon]]), Lower Galilee (Hebrew: גליל תחתון‎ Galil Tahton), and Western Galilee (Hebrew: גליל מערבי‎ Galil Ma'aravi), extending from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_(biblical_city) Dan] to the north, at the base of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hermon Mount Hermon], along [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lebanon Mount Lebanon] to the ridges of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Carmel Mount Carmel] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Gilboa Mount Gilboa] to the south, and from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Rift_Valley Jordan Rift Valley] to the east across the plains of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jezreel_Valley Jezreel Valley] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acre,_Israel Acre] to the shores of the [[Mediterranean]] Sea and the Coastal Plain in the west.

Most of Galilee consists of rocky terrain, at heights of between 500 and 700 meters. There are several high [[mountains]] including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tabor Mount Tabor] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meron Mount Meron] in the region, which have relatively low temperatures and high rainfall. As a result of this [[climate]], flora and wildlife thrive in the region, while many birds annually migrate from colder climates to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa Africa] and back through the Hula–Jordan corridor. The [[streams]] and waterfalls, the latter mainly in Upper Galilee, along with vast fields of greenery and colorful wildflowers, as well as numerous towns of biblical importance, make the region a popular tourist destination.

Most of Galilee consists of rocky terrain, at heights of between 500 and 700 meters. There are several high [[mountains]] including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tabor Mount Tabor] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meron Mount Meron] in the region, which have relatively low temperatures and high rainfall. As a result of this [[climate]], flora and wildlife thrive in the region, while many birds annually migrate from colder climates to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa Africa] and back through the Hula–Jordan corridor. The [[streams]] and waterfalls, the latter mainly in Upper Galilee, along with vast fields of greenery and colorful wildflowers, as well as numerous towns of biblical importance, make the region a popular tourist destination.

Due to its high rainfall (900–1200 mm), mild temperatures and high [[mountains]] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meron Mount Meron]'s elevation is 1,000–1,208 meters), the upper Galilee region contains some [[unique]] flora and fauna : prickly juniper ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_oxycedrus Juniperus oxycedrus]), Lebanese cedar ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrus_libani Cedrus libani]), which grows in a small grove on Mount Meron, cyclamens, paeonias and Rhododendron ponticum which sometimes appears on Meron.

Due to its high rainfall (900–1200 mm), mild temperatures and high [[mountains]] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Meron Mount Meron]'s elevation is 1,000–1,208 meters), the upper Galilee region contains some [[unique]] flora and fauna : prickly juniper ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_oxycedrus Juniperus oxycedrus]), Lebanese cedar ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedrus_libani Cedrus libani]), which grows in a small grove on Mount Meron, cyclamens, paeonias and Rhododendron ponticum which sometimes appears on Meron.

==History==

==History==

According to the [[Bible]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon] rewarded [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_I Hiram I] for certain services by giving him the gift of an upland plain among the mountains of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtali Naphtali]. Hiram called it "the land of Cabul". In [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.9 Isaiah (9:1)], the region is referred to as "the District of the Nations" (גְּלִיל - הַגּוׁיִם; lit:Glil HaGoyim), with much of this name being retained in its present name of Galil or HaGalil. According to one view, during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmoneans Hasmonean period], with the revolt of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees Maccabees] and the decline of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire Seleucid Empire], Galilee was conquered by the newly independent state of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea Judaea], and the region was resettled by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews]. However, according to another view there were not particularly large-scale population movements during this period, Galilee became [[Jewish]] because its population decided to [[recognize]] the [[authority]] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_temple Jerusalem temple] rather than the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritan_temple Samaritan temple].

According to the [[Bible]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon Solomon] rewarded [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiram_I Hiram I] for certain services by giving him the gift of an upland plain among the mountains of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naphtali Naphtali]. Hiram called it "the land of Cabul". In [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Isaiah#Chapter_.9 Isaiah (9:1)], the region is referred to as "the District of the Nations" (גְּלִיל - הַגּוׁיִם; lit:Glil HaGoyim), with much of this name being retained in its present name of Galil or HaGalil. According to one view, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasmoneans Hasmonean period], with the revolt of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees Maccabees] and the decline of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire Seleucid Empire], Galilee was conquered by the newly independent state of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea Judaea], and the region was resettled by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews Jews]. However, according to another view there were not particularly large-scale population movements during this period, Galilee became [[Jewish]] because its population decided to [[recognize]] the [[authority]] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem_temple Jerusalem temple] rather than the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritan_temple Samaritan temple].

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman times], the country was divided into [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea Judea], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria], and ''Galilee'', which comprised the whole northern section of the country, and was the largest of the three regions. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas], son of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod the Great], ruled Galilee as tetrarch.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Empire Roman times], the country was divided into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea Judea], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaria Samaria], and ''Galilee'', which comprised the whole northern section of the country, and was the largest of the three regions. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_Antipas Herod Antipas], son of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great Herod the Great], ruled Galilee as tetrarch.

The Galilee region was presumably the [[home]] of [[Jesus]] during at least 30 years of his life. The first three [[Synoptic Gospels|Gospels]] of the [[New Testament]] are mainly an account of [[Jesus]]' [[public]] ministry in this province, particularly in the towns of [[Nazareth]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum Capernaum]. Galilee is also cited as the place where [[Jesus]] cured a blind man.

The Galilee region was presumably the [[home]] of [[Jesus]] during at least 30 years of his life. The first three [[Synoptic Gospels|Gospels]] of the [[New Testament]] are mainly an account of [[Jesus]]' [[public]] ministry in this province, particularly in the towns of [[Nazareth]] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum Capernaum]. Galilee is also cited as the place where [[Jesus]] cured a blind man.

After the Arab caliphate took control of the region in 638, it became part of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jund_al-Urrdun Jund al-Urrdun] (District of Jordan). Its major towns were [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias Tiberias] — which was capital of the district—Qadas, Baysan, Acre, Saffuriya and Kabul.[2] The Shia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid Fatimids] conquered the region in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Century 10th century]; a breakaway [[sect]], venerating the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, formed the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze Druze] religion, centered in and to north of, Galilee. Eastern Galilee, however, retained a [[Jewish]] [[majority]] for most of its history.

After the Arab caliphate took control of the region in 638, it became part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jund_al-Urrdun Jund al-Urrdun] (District of Jordan). Its major towns were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberias Tiberias] — which was capital of the district—Qadas, Baysan, Acre, Saffuriya and Kabul.[2] The Shia [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatimid Fatimids] conquered the region in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10th_Century 10th century]; a breakaway [[sect]], venerating the Fatimid caliph al-Hakim, formed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze Druze] religion, centered in and to north of, Galilee. Eastern Galilee, however, retained a [[Jewish]] [[majority]] for most of its history.

The Jewish population of Galilee increased significantly following their [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra_Decree expulsion from Spain] and welcome from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottoman Empire]. The [[community]] for a time made [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safed Safed] an international center of cloth weaving and manufacturing, as well as a key site for Jewish learning.[3] Today it remains one of Judaism's four holy cities and a center for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah kabbalah].

The Jewish population of Galilee increased significantly following their [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra_Decree expulsion from Spain] and welcome from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire Ottoman Empire]. The [[community]] for a time made [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safed Safed] an international center of cloth weaving and manufacturing, as well as a key site for Jewish learning.[3] Today it remains one of Judaism's four holy cities and a center for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabbalah kabbalah].

In the mid [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 18th century], Galilee was caught up in a struggle between the Bedouin leader Dhaher al-Omar and the Ottoman authorities who were centered in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus Damascus]. Al-Omar ruled Galilee for 25 years until Ottoman loyalist Jezzar Pasha conquered the region in 1775.

In the mid [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_century 18th century], Galilee was caught up in a struggle between the Bedouin leader Dhaher al-Omar and the Ottoman authorities who were centered in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus Damascus]. Al-Omar ruled Galilee for 25 years until Ottoman loyalist Jezzar Pasha conquered the region in 1775.

In the early [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century 20th century], Galilee was inhabited by Arab Christians, Arab Muslims, Druze and Jews, whilst the Ottomans also settled minorities from elsewhere in their empire including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians Circassians] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosniaks Bosniaks]. Two Circassian villages exist in the Galilee region today. The Jewish population was increased significantly by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist Zionist] immigration.

In the early [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_century 20th century], Galilee was inhabited by Arab Christians, Arab Muslims, Druze and Jews, whilst the Ottomans also settled minorities from elsewhere in their empire including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians Circassians] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosniaks Bosniaks]. Two Circassian villages exist in the Galilee region today. The Jewish population was increased significantly by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionist Zionist] immigration.

After the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_war 1948 Arab–Israeli war] nearly the whole of Galilee came under [[Israel]]'s control. A large portion of the population fled or were forced to leave, leaving dozens of entire villages empty; however, a large [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel Israeli Arab] community remained based in and near the cities of [[Nazareth]], Acre, Tamra, Sakhnin and Shefa-'Amr, due to some extent to a successful rapprochement with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze Druze]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz kibbutzim] around the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee] were sometimes shelled by the Syrian army's artillery until Israel seized the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights Golan Heights] in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War 1967 Six-Day War].

After the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_war 1948 Arab–Israeli war] nearly the whole of Galilee came under [[Israel]]'s control. A large portion of the population fled or were forced to leave, leaving dozens of entire villages empty; however, a large [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_citizens_of_Israel Israeli Arab] community remained based in and near the cities of [[Nazareth]], Acre, Tamra, Sakhnin and Shefa-'Amr, due to some extent to a successful rapprochement with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druze Druze]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kibbutz kibbutzim] around the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee] were sometimes shelled by the Syrian army's artillery until Israel seized the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_Heights Golan Heights] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War 1967 Six-Day War].

During the 1970s and the early 1980s, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization Palestine Liberation Organization] (PLO) launched several attacks on towns of the Upper and Western Galilee from Lebanon. [[Israel]] initiated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Litani Operation Litani] (1979) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Peace_For_Galilee Operation Peace For Galilee] (1982) with the stated objectives of destroying the PLO [[infrastructure]] in Lebanon and protecting the [[citizens]] of the Galilee. Israel occupied much of Southern Lebanon until 1985 when it withdrew to a narrow security buffer zone.

During the 1970s and the early 1980s, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine_Liberation_Organization Palestine Liberation Organization] (PLO) launched several attacks on towns of the Upper and Western Galilee from Lebanon. [[Israel]] initiated [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Litani Operation Litani] (1979) and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Peace_For_Galilee Operation Peace For Galilee] (1982) with the stated objectives of destroying the PLO [[infrastructure]] in Lebanon and protecting the [[citizens]] of the Galilee. Israel occupied much of Southern Lebanon until 1985 when it withdrew to a narrow security buffer zone.

Until the year 2000, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah Hezbollah], and earlier Amal, continued to fight the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Defence_Forces Israeli Defence Forces], sometimes shelling Upper Galilee communities with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyusha_rocket_launcher Katyusha] rockets. In May 2000, Israeli prime minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud_Barak Ehud Barak] unilaterally withdrew IDF troops from southern Lebanon, maintaining a security force on the Israeli side of the international border recognized by the UN. However, clashes between Hezbollah and Israel continued along the border, and UN observers condemned both for their attacks.

Until the year 2000, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezbollah Hezbollah], and earlier Amal, continued to fight the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_Defence_Forces Israeli Defence Forces], sometimes shelling Upper Galilee communities with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyusha_rocket_launcher Katyusha] rockets. In May 2000, Israeli prime minister [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehud_Barak Ehud Barak] unilaterally withdrew IDF troops from southern Lebanon, maintaining a security force on the Israeli side of the international border recognized by the UN. However, clashes between Hezbollah and Israel continued along the border, and UN observers condemned both for their attacks.

The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict 2006 Israel-Lebanon] conflict was characterized by round-the-clock Katyusha rocket attacks (with a greatly extended range) by Hezbollah on the whole of Galilee, with long-range ground-launched missiles, hitting as far south as the Sharon plain, Jezreel Valley, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Valley_(Middle_East) Jordan Valley] below the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee].[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee]

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Israel-Lebanon_conflict 2006 Israel-Lebanon] conflict was characterized by round-the-clock Katyusha rocket attacks (with a greatly extended range) by Hezbollah on the whole of Galilee, with long-range ground-launched missiles, hitting as far south as the Sharon plain, Jezreel Valley, and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Valley_(Middle_East) Jordan Valley] below the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee Sea of Galilee].[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galilee]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: Geography]]

[[Category: Geography]]