History of Haifa
Like most of Israel, Haifa has been populated since ancient times. Elijah is the city's most famous early inhabitant; here he meditated in a cave before defeating the priests of Baal.
In late biblical times, the Phoenician port of Zalemona thrived here, with predominantly Greek settlers. The Jewish agricultural village of Sycaminos clung to the northwestern peak of Mount Carmel and was mentioned in 3rd-century Talmudic literature. The early Christian historian Eusebius also mentioned Sykaminos.
The town was conquered in 1100 by the Crusaders, who called it Caiphas. Haifa was destroyed when the Arabs reconquered the area and later taken by Napoleon in 1799.
The Egyptians captured Haifa in 1839 but were compelled to surrender it to Turkey in 1840 under the pressure of European powers, led by Britain. In the late 1800s, many Jewish refugees moved to Haifa. In 1918 British forces occupied the town and remained until 1948.
The deepwater port at Haifa, developed under the British mandate, was opened in 1933 and expanded extensively after Israel achieved statehood. In April 22, 1948, the Arabs of Haifa surrendered to Israeli forces and the town remains under Israeli rule today.
Sources: Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service and Tour Haifa.
