Ramla, Commercial center in central Israel.
Ramla is a commercial city in central Israel, located between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The city spreads across a plain at roughly 80 meters (260 feet) elevation and serves as a transport hub connecting the north and south of the country.
The city was founded in 716 by Caliph Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik as the administrative capital of Palestine, replacing nearby Lod. Over the centuries, rulers changed from Arab caliphs to crusaders, then to Mamluks and finally to Ottoman governors.
The tower from the 13th century stands as a central landmark, while the vaulted system below ground once secured the water supply. These underground arches and columns can still be walked through today, showing the construction methods of medieval city planners.
The railway station offers hourly connections to Tel Aviv, Beit Shemesh and Jerusalem through the national rail network. The old town can be explored on foot, and signs guide visitors to the main structures and water reservoirs.
The British military cemetery contains the grave of a soldier named Harry Potter, who died during the Arab revolt against British forces in World War I. This unusual name occasionally draws visitors looking for literary references, though it belongs to a real historical figure.
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