Suruh

The village of Saruh stood on a rocky elevation overlooking the village of Tarshiha and facing the nearby village of Shaqra (al-Shaghur). Like those neighboring villages, Saruh was administratively affiliated with Tarshiha.

In the late 19th century, Saruh was a small agricultural village, also known for livestock grazing. It had a population of approximately 90 residents, most of whom were Muslim. The houses were built of stone, and the villagers cultivated grains, olives, grapes, tobacco, and other crops.

In 1944–1945, a total of 1,200 dunums of village lands were allocated for grain cultivation. Residents benefited from the facilities and services available in Tarshiha, which was located just one kilometer away, and they sent their children to school there.

Near Saruh were two archaeological sites, containing various ancient artifacts, including ruined walls, pottery, and rock-cut tombs.

Occupation and Ethnic Cleansing

The inhabitants of Saruh were among the first to be expelled during the Israeli military campaign to “cleanse” the northern border with Lebanon in the second week of November 1948. At the time, major battles of the war had concluded, and Israeli forces advanced rapidly toward many of the villages in the region.

According to Israeli historian Benny Morris, it is unclear whether the residents of Saruh were forced to flee to Lebanon (as was the case with many neighboring villages) or were transported by truck to another location within the territory occupied by Israel, as happened with other depopulated villages.

Israeli forces continued to conduct raids for several weeks after the main operation ended, to ensure that villagers did not attempt to return to their homes. Morris does not specify the exact fate of Saruh or its inhabitants.

The Village Today

Today, nothing remains of Saruh except for rubble, stones, cacti, and wild vegetation. The site is now used primarily as pastureland for livestock.

Zionist Settlements on Village Lands

The kibbutz Shomera (grid ref. 177276) was established in 1949 on part of the village site. Additionally, the industrial settlement of Eylon Mines (grid ref. 178275), founded in 1967, and the settlement of Shomrat 1 (grid ref. 179276), founded in 1969, were also established on Saruh’s lands.