al-‘Umur, Khirbat

Khirbat al-‘Umur was located on a small hill on the southern slope of a mountain, facing southward. Wadi al-Ghadeer ran east to west at the base of this mountain.

 A mountain range separated the village lands from those of Deir ‘Amr. Dirt roads connected Khirbat al-‘Umur to the Jerusalem–Jaffa main road, which passed a short distance to the north, as well as to neighboring villages and to the ruins of what is likely a Byzantine-era site.

By the late 19th century, Khirbat al-‘Umur was described as a small farmstead. The village was rectangular in layout, with stone-built houses. Two main roads intersected at the center of the village, dividing it into four quarters. The inhabitants were Muslims who sourced drinking water from several nearby springs, one of which bore the name of the village itself. The villagers cultivated fruit trees and olives and grew cereal crops, some of which—particularly on the southern edge of the village—were irrigated.

In 1944–1945, a total of 1,279 dunums was allocated for cereals, while 497 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards, including 98 dunums planted with olive trees.

Occupation and Depopulation

The village was occupied on October 21, 1948, placing it under the control of the Israeli Harel Brigade during Operation Ha-Har (see: ‘Allar, Jerusalem District). While specific details about the occupation of Khirbat al-‘Umur are not available, Israeli historian Benny Morris notes that the military pattern during this operation involved the expulsion of village inhabitants by Israeli forces. Thousands were displaced during this campaign, some of whom camped in nearby valleys for several weeks until they were eventually forced to leave by Israeli troops.

Current Status of the Village

The site today is scattered with stone debris, including window and door frames, now largely overgrown with wild vegetation. Some of the original stone terraces remain visible. Cactus plants grow on the eastern and northern edges of the village, while almond, olive, fig, and cypress trees grow within the site itself and on the lands extending south of it.

The village cemetery, located to the south, is now largely overgrown with grass and soil, though several graves and headstones remain visible. ‘Ayn al-‘Umur (the village spring) and the surrounding structure are still intact and clearly visible.

Israeli Settlements on Village Lands

In 1950, the Israeli settlement of Giv‘at Ye‘arim (grid reference 158132) was established on land belonging to the village.