| Al-Na'ani | |
| Native Name: | النعاني |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Other Name: | en-Ni'aneh[1] |
| Etymology: | The plant "mint"[2] |
| Pushpin Map: | Mandatory Palestine |
| Pushpin Mapsize: | 200 |
| Coordinates: | 31.8722°N 34.8733°W |
| Grid Name: | Palestine grid |
| Grid Position: | 138/142 |
| Subdivision Type: | Geopolitical entity |
| Subdivision Name: | Mandatory Palestine |
| Subdivision Type1: | Subdistrict |
| Subdivision Name1: | Ramle |
| Established Title1: | Date of depopulation |
| Established Date1: | May 14, 1948[3] |
| Established Title2: | Repopulated dates |
| Unit Pref: | dunam |
| Area Total Dunam: | 9,768 |
| Population As Of: | 1945 |
| Population Total: | 1,470[4] [5] |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Cause(s) of depopulation |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Fear of being caught up in the fighting |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | Current Localities |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | Na'an,[6] Ramot Me'ir |
Al-Na'ani, also called Al-Ni'ana, was a Palestinian Arab village in the Ramle Subdistrict of Mandatory Palestine. It was depopulated during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War on May 14, 1948, by the Givati Brigade during Operation Barak. It was located 6 km south of Ramle.
It likely experienced a decline, possibly even abandonment, before being resettled by Egyptians in the 19th century. Some of its residents migrated from Hebron and Qazaza. It remained a small village throughout the 19th century.[7]
In 1838, it was noted as a Muslim village in Er-Ramleh district.
An Ottoman village list from about 1870 counted 92 houses and a population of 265, though the population count included men, only.[8] [9]
In 1882, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine described the place as: "A small mud village on low ground, identified with Naamah (near Makkedah), by Captain Warren."[10]
In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Na'ani had a population of 1,004 inhabitants; 1,002 Muslims[11] and 2 Orthodox Christians,[12] increasing in the 1931 census to 1,142; 1,133 Muslims and 9 Christians, in a total of 300 houses.[13]
A British anthropologist, writing in 1932, reported that there was a group of "Sidr" trees (see Ziziphus spina-christi and Sidrat al-Muntaha) south of the village believed to be protected by spirits.[14]
In the 1945 statistics the village had a population of 1,470; 1,450 Muslims and 20 Christians[4] with a total of 9,768 dunums of land.[5] Arabs used 335 dunums of land for plantations and irrigable land, 9,277 dunums for cereals,[15] while 51 dunams were classified as built-up public areas.[16]
The village had an elementary school which was founded in 1923, and by 1947 it had 208 students enrolled.[6]
The Jewish kibbutz of Na'an was established in 1930, on a land purchased from Al-Na'ani. Kibbutz buildings are now on former Al-Na'ani land.[6]
Al-Na'ani became depopulated on May 14, 1948.[3]
See main article: Na'an. In 1949 Ramot Me'ir was established on village land, west of the village site.[6]
In 1992 the village site was described: "The site is overgrown with Christ-thorn and eucalyptus trees and a variety of wild plants. The main landmark, the railway station, is now deserted. The railway line itself is used by Israel and now extends south to Beersheba. Two deserted houses (including one belonging to Ahmad Jubayl) still remain, together with portions of houses utilized mainly for storing agricultural equipment. The land around the site is cultivated."[6]
The village was at the site of a historic Roman site of Tel Na'na' (Hebrew: תל נענע), where excavations have resulted in discovery of tombs and items dating to the Roman, Byzantine, and early Arab era.[17]
