Chronicles

Safad is a city in the Northern District of what is now Israel. Before 1948, Safad had a rich and complex history, particularly in the context of its Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities. After World War I, Safad came under British control as part of the Mandate for Palestine. The city's population in the 1920s and 1930s included significant Jewish and Arab communities. By the 1940s, Safad's population was roughly half Jewish and half Arab, with both communities living in distinct neighborhoods. The 1948 Nakba, Safad was a strategic location due to its elevation and its mixed population. In April 1948, the Haganah, the main Jewish paramilitary organization, launched Operation Yiftach, aimed at capturing Safad and securing the upper Galilee region. The battle for Safad took place between April 28 and May 11, 1948. On May 11, 1948, the Jewish forces succeeded in capturing Safad, leading to the flight of many Arab residents from the city. Following the city's capture, the demographic composition of Safad changed significantly, with most of the Arab population being expelled and fleeing to neighboring Arab countries most Lebanon and Jewish refugees from Europe and other parts of the Middle East settling in the city. After 1948, Safad became part of the newly established State of Israel. The city's Jewish population increased significantly as it absorbed immigrants and developed new neighborhoods.