Ashkelon or Ashqelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Bronze Age. In the course of its history, it has been ruled by the Canaanites, the Philistines, The Israelites, the Babylonians, the Greeks, the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Persians, the Egyptians, the Muslims, the British and the Crusaders. It was destroyed by the Mamluks in 1270 and fell into disuse.
The modern city of Ashkelon grew out of the Arab town of al-Majdal (Arabic: المجدل or Arabic: مجدل عسقلان, Hebrew: אל-מג'דל, מגדל). In 1596 it was a village of 559 Muslim households, and in 1931, 6,166 Muslims and 41 Christians were living there.
By 1948, the population had grown to about 11,000. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the city was for a time the forward position of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Gaza. Most of the population fled to Gaza along with the retreating Egyptian Army. The city was captured by Israeli forces on November 5, 1948.
Over the years, Ashkelon grew to a population of 108,900. The proximity to the beach and peaceful locale, made it an attractive destination for young families, as well as for retiring couples.
The beautiful beaches in Ashkelon still draw tourists from Israel and without.
The name of the shallot and the scallion derives from the name of this ancient city.
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