Rashaya al-Foukhar, () is a municipality in the district of Hasbaya in the Nabatiye Governorate in southern Lebanon. It is located on the western slopes of Mount Hermon at an altitude starting at 750 m with the highest summit being at 1,250 m. The population is Greek Orthodox.
History In 1838, during the Ottoman era, Eli Smith noted the population of Rashaya al-Foukhar as being "Greek" Christians.Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 138
In 1852 Edward Robinson noted: "The village is celebrated for its pottery; for the manufacture of which it is one of the chief seats. There are many large dome-shaped furnaces for burning of ware; and many specimens were standing outside of the houses [..], tall jars, and the like. This pottery is sent around to all the fairs of the country, and far into the Hauran; as also to Hums and Hamah."Robinson and Smith, 1856, pp. 415-416
In 1875, Victor Guérin found here a town with 700 inhabitants, mostly "Schismatic Greek". He also noted the pottery production, and that there was a small Protestant mission in the place.Guérin, 1880, pp. 284-5
In 1990, U.S missionary William Robinson was killed here by masked gunmen.U.S. Missionary Shot to Death At Home in South Lebanon, Ihsan A. Hijazi, March 29, 1990, The New York Times
Demographics In 2014 Christians made up 97.81% of registered voters in Rashaya al-Foukhar. 49.31% of the voters were Greek Orthodox, 24.95% were Greek Catholics and 12.66% were Maronite Catholics.
References
Bibliography
External links Rachaiya El Foukhar, Localiban