‘Arab al-Bawati

The village of ʿArab al-Buwayṭī was situated on a hill protruding from the eastern side of a mountain, overlooking wide expanses of land to the east of the Jordan Valley (Ghor al-Urdun). A main road leading to Baysan and Tiberias ran to the west of the village, and a secondary road connected it to neighboring villages.

The village was established by a clan from the Bedouin tribe of ʿArab al-Ghazawiyya. The houses, built of mud and reeds, were scattered across the site, along with a few goat-hair tents. The population was entirely Muslim.

In the southern part of the village, several springs provided water for domestic use and irrigation. The inhabitants cultivated grains, vegetables, and fruits on parts of their land, while other areas were used for grazing livestock and fishing. Some of the crops were irrigated, while others relied on rain-fed (dry) farming.

In 1944/1945, a total of:

3,135 dunums was allocated for cereal cultivation, and

2,225 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards. Residents of ʿArab al-Buwayṭī depended on the nearby town of Baysan for commercial, educational, and administrative services.

The site known as Khirbat al-Buwayṭī, located within the village area, contained remains of walls, columns, building foundations, and Roman milestone markers, indicating historical significance.

The Village Today

All of the village’s houses have been destroyed. However, stone wall remains, square and circular foundations, are still visible among wild vegetation. The site is now abandoned, and the surrounding lands are cultivated with various crops. The fish ponds that were once used by the villagers are still intact, and irrigated fields extend west of the former village location.

Zionist Settlements on Village Lands

No Israeli settlements were established directly on the village lands. The nearest settlement is Hemdiyya (199214), which was established in 1942, to the west of the village, on lands that traditionally belonged to the village of al-Hamidiyya and the city of Baysan. The settlement was originally named Hermonim, but in 1952, its name was changed to Hemdiyya to more closely resemble the original Arabic name.