Al-Burj
البرج | |
---|---|
Etymology: The tower[1] | |
Location within Mandatory Palestine | |
Coordinates: 31°54′07″N 35°01′14″E / 31.90194°N 35.02056°E | |
Palestine grid | 152/145 |
Geopolitical entity | Mandatory Palestine |
Subdistrict | Ramle |
Date of depopulation | July 15–16, 1948[4] |
Area | |
• Total | 4,708 dunams (4.708 km2 or 1.818 sq mi) |
Population (1945) | |
• Total | 480[2][3] |
Cause(s) of depopulation | Military assault by Yishuv forces |
Current Localities | Kfar Rut[5] |
Al-Burj (Arabic: البرج) was a Palestinian Arab village 14 km east of Ramle close to the highway to Ramallah, which was depopulated in 1948. Its name, "the tower", is believed to be derived from the crusader castle, Castle Arnold, built on the site. Victorian visitors in the 19th century recorded seeing crusader ruins close to the village.[6]