Tira, Israel

Tira is an Arab city in Israel's Central District, in the Triangle region near the Green Line and adjacent to Kfar Saba. Its origins predate sixteenth century Ottoman records and it was resettled in the eighteenth century by Bani Sa'b tribesmen, remaining under Israeli military rule until 1966 before being granted city status in 1991. The population grew from 3,180 in 1945 and 8,500 in 1972 to 27,680 in 2024, a population that is 99.9 percent Sunni Muslim Arab, and the city has experienced extensive land confiscations, including 5,232 dunams taken in 1953 and 1954. Celebrated for its weekly market and Arab cuisine, Tira is the home town of author Sayed Kashua and law scholar Nimer Sultany.