Al-Khalasa

Al-Khalasa was a Palestinian village located approximately 23 kilometers southwest of the city of Be’er Sheva, at the confluence of Wadi al-‘Awsaja and Wadi al-Khalasa. It was situated amidst barren hills and overlooked vast areas of land in all directions except the south. In 1838, the American biblical scholar Edward Robinson identified the site as the ancient Nabataean city of Elusa.

The location appears to have been a caravan station on the trade route from Petra to Gaza. According to the Life of Saint Hilarion—written by Saint Jerome in the early 5th century CE—when Hilarion visited Elusa in the 4th century, wine from nearby vineyards was offered to him. Elusa appears on the Madaba Map, a 6th-century mosaic map of Palestine. It seems the town served as the administrative center of the province of Palaestina Tertia until the Islamic conquest.

Little is known about al-Khalasa during the early Islamic period. The geographer Muhammad al-Dimashqi (d. 1327) noted that the town was under the administrative jurisdiction of Gaza. The historian al-Maqrizi (d. 1441) described it as one of the major towns in the southern region of Palestine. However, the town declined with the deterioration of trade routes in the Negev.

Modern interest in al-Khalasa began in the early 20th century. In 1905, the École Biblique in Jerusalem conducted archaeological studies in the area. The British Survey published a detailed map of the archaeological site in 1914. Around the same time, the ‘Azazmeh Bedouin tribe decided to settle at the site and built a triangular-shaped village between the two wadis. The homes were constructed using stone and mud.

A primary school was established in al-Khalasa in 1941, and the village had several shops. Residents obtained drinking water from Tib‘a, and their livelihoods depended on animal husbandry and trade. In 1938, archaeological excavations revealed the ruins of a city, tombs, and architectural fragments bearing inscriptions. Between 1973 and 1980, three excavation seasons uncovered the remains of a large Nabataean theater, the largest church in the Negev, other ecclesiastical buildings, and defensive towers built on city walls and homes.

Occupation and Depopulation

It is likely that al-Khalasa came under Israeli control relatively early during the 1948 war. According to the book “History of the Haganah”, the commander of the Negev Brigade, Dachum Sarig, stated after the war:

“By May 15, the entire Negev was fully under Hebrew control.”

However, it is possible that the village held out—like Be’er Sheva—until October 1948, during Operation Yoav.

Current Status of the Village Site

Some of the village houses still stand, though they are abandoned and partially ruined. To the west of the original village site, there is a usable well, featuring a circular structure and an iron ladder. A few meters further west lies a large rectangular house with eight rooms. Piles of rubble from around ten destroyed houses are visible nearby. Remains of the village cemetery can be seen in the northern part of the site. Near the cemetery are archaeological excavations and partially preserved village houses, totaling around 15 structures, mostly located to the south and west of the main site.

Israeli Settlements on Village Lands

There are no Israeli settlements established on the lands of al-Khalasa. The area is currently used for military training purposes.