Bir El-Maksur (Israel)

Mo'atza Mekomit Bir El-Maksur, Majles Makhaly Bir El-Maksur

Last modified: 2007-06-23 by dov gutterman
Keywords: bir el-maksur | beer el-maksur | mo'atza mekomit bir el-maksur | majles makhaly bir el-maksur | bedouin | text: english (green) | text: arabic (green) | text: hebrew (green) |
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by Dov Gutterman | 2:3 Coat-of-arms adopted 12th March 1996

• Description

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• Municipal Flags (Israel)
• Israel

Description

The unofficial flag of Local Council Bir El-Maksur is a emblem in natural colors on a white bedsheet (2:3) with the inscription BIR EL MAKSUR (in English) below the emblem. A black and white emblem can be seen here. Bir el-Maksur (in Arabic broken well) is a local council situated on the road from Qiryat Bialik to Nazareth (road 79) about 15 km NW of the latter. Its population of 6,000 is made up of settled Bedouins from the Arab el-Hujeirat tribe. It was established in the 1950s and became a local council in 1990.
Source: personal observation, 10 July 2001.

The municipal emblem was published in the official gazette (Rashumot, Yalkut ha-Pirsumim), YP 4389, 12 March 1996.
The emblem shows olive branches, a mosque, tents, a palm and a well. Beer el-Maksur means 'broken well' in Arabic.
Dov Gutterman, 11 July, 21 September and 12 October 2001

There are two versions for the origin of the name, both attributed to the well that situated on the feet of the hill on which the village is situated. First version is that during a very rainy winter, the walls of the well were ruined under the pressure of the water coming from the well. Second version is that during the Mandate era, a British officer came to see the well, slipped and broke his leg.
In any case, the first house in the village was erected in 1945, it became a "recognized village" in 1975 and Local Council in 1990.
Source: <web.macam.ac.il>.
Since I visited this village quite a few times, I should inform that I once also saw a flag with dark blue emblem on light blue background .
The emblem include the well - representation of the area and the name, a palm tree, Bedouin tents - for the roots of the population and a mosque on a hill - for their faith.
Dov Gutterman, 9 April 2005