| Year | Arab | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 551 | 551 |
| 1944/45 * | 650 | 650 |
| Year | Arab | Public | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944/45 * | 16690 | 16690 |
| Use | Arab | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12610 | 12610 (76%) | |||||||||
|
4080 | 4080 (24%) |
The village (also known as Khirbat Abu Zayna) was situated on a plain that lay west of the Syrian border, north of the point where the Jordan River flowed into Lake Tiberias. It overlooked the northernmost shoreline of the lake. A secondary road linked it to the village of al-Tabigha, also on the lake shore but to the southwest, and to a highway that curved around the lake and led to the city of Tiberias. Its stone houses were built between this secondary road and the banks of the Jordan. It was inhabited by the settled members of the 'Arab al-Shamalina Bedouin tribe. They tilled the land north of the village, along the river, cultivating citrus and vegetables. The river and several springs provided them with water for both drinking and irrigation. In 1944/45 a total of 3,842 dunums was allocated to cereals and 238 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards. Several archaeological sites were found nearby.
In the course of Operation Yiftach, designed to occupy and 'cleanse' eastern Galilee (see Abil al-Qamh, Safad sub-disctrict), a limited sub-operation was launched to expel all Palestinian inhabitants from an area between Lake aI-Hula and Lake Tiberias. 'Arab al-Shamalina was occupied during this offensive, which was named Operation Matate (Broom) and was implemented on 4 May 1948. According to Israeli historian Benny Morris, the operational order said specifically that this village should be attacked, its houses blown up, and its residents expelled. Before the assault, Palmach troops shelled the area with mortars, and Morris claims that the villagers fled with the approach of the occupying force. Operation Broom had an important impact on the people of Safad and the aI-Hula Valley, according to the operation's commander, Palmach chief Yiga Allon. The Syrians told the British that this Palmach thrust resulted in 2,000 more refugees from the area. 
The village lands are used by the settlement of Almagor (206257), which was established 2 km northwest of the village site in 1961.
The site, which is mostly covered with thorny grass, is strewn with the rubble of houses. Eucalyptus and palm trees also grow on the site. Most of the surrounding land is used as pasture, although some of it is cultivated.