MAGHAR, AL-

MAGHAR, AL-, Druze village in northern Israel, 10 mi. (16 km.) N.W. of Tiberias. One of the major Druze centers, the village had 5,750 inhabitants in 1969, of whom a minority were Christian and Muslim Arabs. Its economy was based on hill farming and on local workshops. By the end of 2002 Maghar's population had tripled its size to 17,900 (57% Druzes, 23% Christians and 20% Muslims). The village has municipal council status and extends over an area of 9 sq. mi. (23 sq. km.). In 2000, income there was about half the national average. The place is possibly identical with Ma'ariyyah or Me'arot where a priestly family lived in talmudic times (Baraita of the Twenty-Four Mishmarot). (Efraim Orni / Shaked Gilboa (2nd ed.)