Umm al-Fahm

Umm al-Fahm (Arabic: أمّ الفحم‎, Umm al-Faḥm; Hebrew: אֻם אל-פַחְם‬) is a ceety in the Haifa Destrict o Israel. In 2015 its population wis 52,500, nearly aw o whom are Arab citizens o Israel. The ceety is situatit on the Umm al-Fahm muntain rig, the heichest pynt o which is Mt. Iskander (522 meters abuin sea level), owerleukin Wadi Ara. Umm al-Fahm is the social, cultural an economic centre for residents o the Wadi Ara an Triangle regions. History Accordin tae the Muslim historian al-Maqrizi, Umm al-Fahm wis established in 1265. Its name means "Mither o Charcoal" in Arabic,) the veelage wis surroondit bi naitural forests which wur uised tae produce charcoal. Several archaeological sites aroond the ceety date tae the Iron Age, as well as Muslim, Roman an Hellenistic periods. In the late 19t century, Umm al-Fahm wis descrived as haein aroond 500 indwallers, o which some 80 fowk wur Christians. The place wis well-biggit o stane, an the veelagers wur descrived as bein vera rich in cattle, goats an horse. A Muqam for a Sheik Iskander wis notit on a hill abuin. In 1948, thare wur 4,500 indwallers, maistly farmers, in the Umm al-Fahm aurie. Efter the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Lausanne Conference o 1949 awardit the entire Little Triangle tae Israel, which wantit it for security purposes. On 20 Mey 1949, the ceety's leader signed an oath o alliegiance tae the State o Israel. Follaein its absorption intae Israel, the toun's population grew rapidly. Bi 1960, Umm al-Fahm wis gien local cooncil status bi the Israeli govrenment. In 1965-1985, it wis govrened bi electit cooncils. In 1985, Umm al-Fahm wis gien offeecial ceety status. Cultur, sport an tourism The Umm al-Fahm Airt Gallery wis established in 1996 as a venue for contemporary airt exhibitions an a hame for oreeginal Arab an Palestinian airt. The gallery operates unner the auspices o the El-Sabar Association. Yoko Ono held an exhibition thare in 1999, an some o her airt is still on show. The gallery affers classes tae baith Arab an Jewish childer an exhibits the wirk o baith Arab an Jewish airtists. In 2007, the municipality grantit the gallery a lairge plot o land on which a museum o Arab airt will be biggit. The architect is Senan Abdelqader. The ceety haes several fitbaa clubs; Hapoel Umm al-Fahm currently play in Liga Artzit, the third tier o Israeli fitbaa. Ironi Sayid Umm al-Fahm play in Liga Alef (the fowert tier). Maccabi Umm al-Fahm play in Liga Bet (the fift tier), an Beitar Umm al-Fahm play in Liga Gimel (the saxt tier). Green Carpet is an association established bi the residents tae promote local tourism an environmental projects in an aroond Umm al-Fahm. References