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Ramla

Ramla
  • רַמְלָה
  • الرملة
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • ISO 259 Ramla
 • Also spelled Ramleh (unofficial)
RamleviewS.jpg
Official logo of Ramla
Emblem of Ramla
Ramla is located in Israel
Ramla
Ramla
Coordinates: 31°56′N 34°52′E / 31.933°N 34.867°E / 31.933; 34.867Coordinates: 31°56′N 34°52′E / 31.933°N 34.867°E / 31.933; 34.867
Country Israel
District Central
Founded 716
Government
 • Type City
 • Mayor Yoel Lavi
Area
 • Total 9,993 dunams (9.993 km2 or 3.858 sq mi)
Population (2015)
 • Total 73,686

Ramla (Hebrew: רַמְלָה‎, Ramla; Arabic: الرملة‎‎, ar-Ramlah) (also Ramlah,Ramle, Remle and sometimes Rama) is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 CE by the Umayyad governor and future caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik. Ramla lies along the route of the Via Maris, connecting old Cairo (Fustat) with Damascus, at its intersection with the road connecting the port of Jaffa with Jerusalem.

It was conquered many times in the course of its history, by the Abbasids, the Ikhshidids, the Fatimids, the Seljuqs, the Crusaders, the Mameluks, the Turks, the British, and the Israelis. After an outbreak of the Black Death in 1347, which greatly reduced the population, an order of Franciscan monks established a presence in the city. Under Arab and Ottoman rule the city became an important trade center. Napoleon's French Army occupied it in 1799 on its way to Acre.


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