The revival of ma’lul village

Abandoned villages are an inseparable part of the cultural and historical landscape of Israel, serving as reminders of life before 1948. Over time, awareness of these villages has diminished due to the erasure of Palestinian historical spaces from the country’s territories. Some abandoned villages have been destroyed and replaced with new settlements, while others have been supplanted by eucalyptus forests planted by “KKAL.” 

As a child, I vividly remember sitting with my grandmother, listening to her stories about life in Ma’lul village, its anecdotes, and our family’s displacement. These memories instilled in me the understanding that preserving the narratives of abandoned villages is crucial to preventing their oblivion. This project aims to preserve the past and restore the stories of abandoned villages by creating a unified space that connects both components and allows them to be expressed appropriately for the environment. I chose the village of Ma’lul due to my emotional connection and its ideal location, surrounded by forests and developing villages. 

Ma’lul, situated on the southern slopes of the Lower Galilee, consists of various plots that contribute to its unique character. Some plots are based on historical or physical evidence, while others rely on the stories of the village’s displaced inhabitants. Over time, Ma’lul experienced significant struggles over its territory against the state, resulting in land expropriation, the evacuation of its residents, and the division of the village’s land by Highway 75. Today, part of Ma’lul’s territory is designated as a forest owned by “KKAL,” while the rest is classified as agricultural land belonging to surrounding villages. 

The project proposes the creation of a historical trail that winds through the remnants of the village, reconstructing the collective memory and fostering connections between different generations. Its main goal is to revive Ma’lul and convey its stories to visitors