Jiddin, Khirbat

Khirbat Jiddin was built around the remains of an ancient fortress, located atop a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea to the west. To the south of the village lies Wadi Jiddin, a deep valley running through a densely forested area.

The fortress was originally constructed by the Crusaders toward the end of the 12th century and was known by the name Judin. It was destroyed in 1288 by Muslim forces, who sought to prevent the Crusaders from utilizing the site’s strategic military advantage. It remained abandoned until 1770, when Zahir al-‘Umar, the de facto ruler of northern Palestine during the second half of the 18th century, rebuilt it—alongside other fortresses—to strengthen his military position. The fortress was again destroyed in the late 1770s by his successor, Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar.

By 1948, the ‘Arab al-Suwaytat tribe had settled among the ruins of the fortress, using the remaining structures as dwellings and setting up tents in the surrounding area. The residents were Muslims, primarily engaged in animal husbandry, though they also cultivated barley and tobacco on a small plot of land measuring 22 dunums (as of 1944–1945).

Occupation and Ethnic Cleansing

The timing of Khirbat Jiddin’s occupation can be inferred from the chronology of Israeli military operations in the region. The nearby village of ‘Amqa, located just a few kilometers to the southwest, was captured in early July 1948 during Operation Dekel. However, the village of Yanuh, situated two kilometers to the southeast, was not occupied until late October 1948 during Operation Hiram.

The records indicate that the settlement of Gatton (grid ref. 170268) was established northwest of the village in early October 1948, suggesting that Khirbat Jiddin was likely occupied during the first operation (Operation Dekel). If so, the village was probably captured shortly after the fall of ‘Amqa on 10–11 July 1948.

Khirbat Jiddin remained on the frontline between July and October, during which time several villages in the area were heavily shelled in advance of coordinated assaults by the Seventh (Sheva) Brigade and the Carmeli Brigade.

The Village Today

The fortress has been preserved and maintained as a tourist site. It is now surrounded by eucalyptus trees and dense thickets.

Zionist Settlements on Village Lands

The nucleus of the settlement Beit Jannim (171265) was established in 1946 by members of the urban settlement of Kiryat Haim. The settlement itself was constructed in November 1947 on village lands north of the original site. In addition, the settlement of Gatton (grid ref. 170268) was built on village land in October 1948.