Community Involvement Gap Track

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A city in central Israel with a mixed Arab and Jewish population. Ramla was founded circa 705-715 CE by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik. It was conquered many times in the course of its history, by the Abbasids, the Ikhshidids, the Fatamids, the Seljuqs, the Crusaders, the Mameluks, the Turks and the British. Under the Arab and Ottoman rule the city become an important trade center in Palestine. Napoleon's army occupied Ramla in 1799 on its way to Acre. The city suffered severe damage from earthquakes in 715, 1033, 1068, 1546 and 1927. After an outbreak of the Black Plague in 1347, which decimated the population, an order of Franciscan monks established a presence in the city.

In recent years, attempts have been made to develop and beautify the city, which has been plagued by neglect, financial problems and a negative public image. New shopping malls and public parks have been built, and a municipal museum opened in 2001.