Umm al-Fahm

Umm al - Fahm (Arabic: أم الفحم, DMG Umm al Fahm; Hebrew אום אל - פחם ) is a city in Israel. In September 2003, the population was 38,600. The population of Umm al Fahm consists almost exclusively of Arabs. The city status was given the 25.5 km ² large village in 1984.

Name

The city's name means "mother of coal " ( owner of the coal), which indicates the economic past of the company founded in 1265 the place. At that time the area was forested and center for charcoal production.

Land swap

Because of the proximity to the border with the West Bank and the exclusively Arab population, the town is repeatedly named as a candidate for a possible land swap in a future peace agreement with the Palestinians, making the area annexed by Israeli settlements to be compensated. The residents, however, are not particularly interested to live under the Palestinian Authority. Last Avigdor Lieberman made ​​in January 2014, a proposal like this, was described by Arab leaders as ethnic cleansing.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Tawfik Abu Wael, Palestinian filmmaker and director