Ayn al-Mansi

Ayn al-Mansi (Arabic: عين المنسي, Ein el Mansî) was a Palestinian Arab village in the District of Jenin of the Mandatory Palestine. It was depopulated as a result of a military attack in mid-April during the 1947–48 Civil War in Mandatory Palestine.^[2]

Ayn al-Mansi عين المنسي 'Ein al-Mansi
Etymology: el Mensi= "the forgotten"[1]
1870s map 1940s map modern map 1940s with modern overlay map A series of historical maps of the area around Ayn al-Mansi (click the buttons)
Ayn al-Mansi Location within Mandatory Palestine
Coordinates: 32°35′36″N 35°10′38″E
Palestine grid	166/222
Geopolitical entity	Mandatory Palestine
Subdistrict	Jenin
Date of depopulation	mid-April 1948[2]
Area
• Total	1,295 dunams (1.295 km2 or 320 acres)
Population  (1945[3][4])
• Total	90
Cause(s) of depopulation	Military assault by Yishuv forces

History

During the 19^th and first half of the 20^th century, Ayn al-Mansi was one of the settlements of the so-called "Fahmawi Commonwealth" established by Hebronite clans belonging to Umm al-Fahm. The Commonwealth consisted of a network of interspersed communities connected by ties of kinship, and socially, economically and politically affiliated with Umm al Fahm. The Commonwealth dominated vast sections of Bilad al-Ruha/Ramot Menashe, Wadi 'Ara and Marj Ibn 'Amir/Jezreel Valley during that time.^[5]

In the 1882 the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described El Mensi as: "A small ruined village, with springs."^[6]

British Mandate era

In the 1931 census of Palestine, conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Ein el Mansi had 73 Muslim inhabitants, in a total of 15 houses.^[7]

In addition to agriculture, residents practiced animal husbandry which formed was an important source of income for the town. In 1943, they owned 13 heads of cattle, 2 horses, 10 donkeys, 270 fowls, and 10 pigeons.^[8]

In the 1945 Village Statistics, Ayn al-Mansi's population was estimated at 90 Muslims,^[3] and the jurisdiction of the village was 1,295 dunams of land.^[4] Of this, 186 dunams were used for plantations and irrigable land, 868 dunams were used for cereals,^[9] while 2 dunams were built-up (urban) land.^[10]

1948 and aftermath

Ayn al-Mansi became depopulated after Military assault in mid-April 1948.^[2]