Talk:Netzer Sereni

'Estate'

Rather than being 'funny', it actually looks to be a more accurate description of Bir Salem than 'village'. It actually appears to have been an agricultural school for Arab children, which was established by a Lutheran priest in 1897. The Hebrew article is quite informative and the place has a very interesting history (e.g. being Allenby's base during WWI).

As it is all the same site, I suggest Bir Salem is merged here and the article history expanded. Cheers, Number 57 11:22, 7 January 2026 (UTC)

Towards the end of the mandate it was listed as a village by the British administration and had a large purely Muslim population (perhaps the Germans had been kicked out like most other German nationals in Palestine). However, most of the land under cultivation was owned by "other" (not Arab nor Jew). Its unusual history and exact nature need research but calling an "estate" as if only land and not people were involved is not acceptable. The German connection of course should be researched more. Zero^talk 14:23, 7 January 2026 (UTC)

I guess the ownership is explained by it being owned by a Christian organisation that was run for the Arab population. Anyway, the point was that it's always worth checking out claims being added by people rather than dismissing them if they don't fit a preferred narrative. Cheers, Number 57 14:42, 7 January 2026 (UTC)