Historical background

Several archeological remnants, like cemeteries, holly places and caves, are evidence for it is being one of the most ancient settlements in Upper Galilee.
Similar evidence are found in history books. from the year 1188 one historian said that the sultan salah El-deen passed the village in his way to amel Mountain (in south Lebanon),it is also said that the village at the time was already populated and built in the shape of a line.

from the 16th century the Turkish traveller "aolia Tashleve" mentioned the existence of Druze population in the village, to the Druze Mountain in Lebanon.
at the end of the 17th century Christians and Muslems came from Lebanon while the rest from other parts of the coutry.
In January 1837 the village was destroyed by a strong earthquake in which 200 persons were killed. at the begining of the Jewish settlment in the country (1885) "Hoveve Zion" (members of Zion movement) tries hard to buy lands in the village but with no success.
During the Independence War the village was a military base of the Defence forces, butsoon it was conquered in 29/10/1948 during the Heram operation.
Through the war, half of the population left the village, most of them were Muslems who fled to Lebanon, and instead, people from Bireem village were settled in El-gish. demographic composition.
People in the village are devided into three sects: Christians 65%, and Muslems 35%. almost 50% of the whole population are considered to be inner refugees from the village: Bireem, Kadeeta, Sasa and akbara.

Name and Meaning

el-jish is known for its several names through history whish indicates the several people who settled the place in the past.
the Roman has called it "Jiscala", while the Jews named it "Goosh Halav" (the lump of milk) for it is being built over alime rocky lumps, or for the plenty of milk in the area. as for the arabic name "el-jish" it is also derived from the same Hebrew source which refers the rocky hill (835 meters height) on which it is located.

local Policy

In the year 1963 the local counsil was first held in El-gish, and since then still working hard for improved the village in every possible field: education as well as construction. agriculture and others.
To end with, it is worth while pointing out the good citizenship and loyality to the country that people in El-gesh have always proved by building up friendly and peace relationships with thier jewish neighbours in the naerby Jewish settlments. By this they have given us a model to follow for the sake of having peace all over the country and the midlle East.

Education and Cultur

Two schools are in the village: a govermental elementary school with about 350 pupils, and a private school with 250 students.
Education level in El-gish is considered to be one of the highest levels in the country. about 150 young people have completed their higher education in several fields like: Medicine, Engeneering, Humanities, and Natural sciences. these intellectuals are integrated in several systems through which they contribute their part in constructal and industrial fields all over the country and also abroad.

Location

el-jish village lies in the heart of Galilee moumtains, about 4 km north to Miron Mountain .
the village surrounded with natural reserves, valley and springs. it spreads over 12,000 dunams of which 470 dunams, are builded area. Marvelous land scapes, plenty of water, furtile land and a comfortable weather have always attracted establishments to this village since dawn of history.