View source for Beit Jala

{{Short description|Town near Bethlehem, State of Palestine}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Beit Jala
| translit_lang1          = Arabic
| translit_lang1_type     = [[Arabic script|Arabic]]
| translit_lang1_info     = {{lang|ar|بيت جالا}}
| translit_lang1_type1    = [[Latin script|Latin]]
| translit_lang1_info1    = Bayt Jala (unofficial)
| translit_lang2          = Hebrew
| translit_lang2_type     = [[Hebrew script|Hebrew]]
| translit_lang2_info     = {{Script/Hebrew|בית ג'אלא}}
| type                    = [[Municipality (Palestinian Authority)|Municipality type B]]
| image_skyline           = Beit Jala City, Saint Nicholas Church.jpg
| image_caption           = Beit Jala, with Saint Nicholas Church.
| image_blank_emblem      = BeitJala_Logo.gif
| blank_emblem_type       = Municipal Seal of Beit Jala
| pushpin_map             = Palestine
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Beit Jala within [[Palestine]]
| image_map               = 
| map_caption             = 
| coordinates             = {{coord|31|42|54|N|35|11|14|E|region:PS|display=inline,title}}
| grid_name               = [[Palestine grid|Palestine&nbsp;grid]]
| grid_position           = 167/124
| subdivision_type        = State
| subdivision_name        = [[State of Palestine]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Governorates of the Palestinian National Authority|Governorate]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Bethlehem Governorate|Bethlehem]]
| established_title       = Founded
| established_date        = 
| government_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| government_type         = [[Municipality (Palestinian Authority)|Municipality]] 
| leader_title            = Head of Municipality
| leader_name             = Nicola Khamis <ref>[http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Municipal_Elections_Results_EN_(2).pdf West Bank] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630094514/http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Municipal_Elections_Results_EN_%282%29.pdf |date=2007-06-30 }} Local Elections (Round two) - Successful candidates by local authority, gender and No. of votes obtained Beit Jala p 24</ref>
| unit_pref               = dunam
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_total_km2          = 13.0
| area_total_dunam        = 12911
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| elevation_min_m         = 
| elevation_max_m         = 
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="PCBS">[http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/BethlehemE.html 2017 PCBS Census] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210081942/http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_PCBS/Downloads/book1487.pdf |date=2010-12-10 }} [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]]. p.118.</ref>
| population_total        = 13,484
| population_as_of        = 2017
| population_note         =

| population_metro        = 97,559
| population_density_km2  = auto
| blank_name_sec1         = Name meaning
| blank_info_sec1         = House of Jala<ref>Palmer, 1881, p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp00conduoft#page/286/mode/1up 286]</ref>
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.beitjala-city.org/en/}}
| footnotes               = 
}}

'''Beit Jala''' ({{langx|ar|{{Audio|ArBeitJala.ogg|بيت جالا}}}}) is a [[Palestinian Christian]] town in the [[Bethlehem Governorate]] of [[Palestine]], in the [[West Bank]]. Beit Jala is located {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}}10&nbsp;km south of [[Jerusalem]], on the western side of the [[Hebron]] road, opposite [[Bethlehem]], at {{convert|825|m|ft|sp=us}} [[altitude]]. In 2017, Beit Jala had 13,484 inhabitants according to the [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]]. About 80% of the population were [[Palestinian Christians|Christian]]s (mostly [[Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem|Greek Orthodox]] and [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem|Roman Catholic]]) and about 20% [[Muslim]]s.

[[Saint Nicholas]] – the inspiration for [[Santa Claus]] – is the [[patron saint]] of Beit Jala, where the Church of Saint Nicholas was built over a crypt where it is believed he lived for a couple years during his time in Palestine.

== Etymology ==
[[File:Walaja Barrier 2011.jpg|thumbnail|Map of the Beit Jala region]]

[[Claude Reignier Conder|Conder]] and [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Kitchener]] identified Beit Jala with ''Galem'' or ''Gallim'' (Γαλλιμ) of the [[Septuagint]],<ref name=":0">Conder and Kitchener, 1881,  SWP III, p. [https://archive.org/details/surveyofwesternp03conduoft/page/20/mode/1up?view=theater 20]</ref> a place in the 9th district of the inheritance of [[Tribe of Judah|Judah]]; [[homonym]]ous with a settlement in [[Tribe of Benjamin|Benjamin]] NE of [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Marom |first1=Roy |last2=Zadok |first2=Ran |date=2023 |title=Early-Ottoman Palestinian Toponymy: A Linguistic Analysis of the (Micro-)Toponyms in Haseki Sultan's Endowment Deed (1552) |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0cs6f5k5 |journal=Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palästina-Vereins |language=en |volume=139 |issue=2}}</ref>

==History==

===Byzantine period===
A crypt, dating to the 5th or 6th century C.E., was located under the Church of [[Saint Nicholas]] in Beit Jala.<ref name="Pringle">Pringle, 1993, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=BgQ6AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA93 93]-95</ref>

===Crusader period===
In the [[Crusader states|Crusader]] era, the village was called Apezala, and the Church of Saint Nicholas was possibly rebuilt during that time.<ref name="Pringle"/>

===Ottoman period===
In 1516, the village was included in the [[Ottoman Empire]] with the rest of [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]. In this century, Beit Jala was a large village of Christian and  [[fellahin|peasants]] and it had over ten elders (''akabir'') who functioned as leaders, with each religious group having separate sets of leaders.<ref>Singer, 1994, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mrsAw_mk1d0C&pg=PA34  34]-35.</ref> Rare for a single village, it and nearby Bethlehem, served as its own separate jurisdiction instead of being grouped with other villages into a ''[[nahiya]]''.<ref>Singer, 1994 p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mrsAw_mk1d0C&pg=PA165 165]</ref> In April 1531, when an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] official went to Beit Jala to register the village's grapevines for tax purposes, the residents refused to seriously answer his questions and mocked the authority of the Ottoman sultan, marking a notable episode of initial local resistance to the Ottoman taxation methods and procedures. By the end of the 16th century, Beit Jala was almost entirely inhabited by Christians. Beit Jala's size rendered it similar to that of a town, with the village being subdivided into four quarters.<ref name="Singer80">Singer, 1994, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mrsAw_mk1d0C&pg=PA80  80] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212234559/https://books.google.com/books?id=mrsAw_mk1d0C&pg=PA80#v=onepage&q&f=false |date=2023-12-12 }}</ref> The village produced more wheat and barley than surrounding localities and like other villages south of Jerusalem, grape cultivation was greater than olive cultivation. Beit Jala was taxed on these agricultural products as well as figs, honeybees, and goats. It contained one of the six olive presses in the subdistrict of Jerusalem in the 16th century. Despite its large size, Beit Jala was relatively poorer than other villages in the subdistrict.<ref>Singer, 1994 pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=mrsAw_mk1d0C&pg=PA81  81]-82.</ref>

In the 1596 [[Defter|tax-records]], it appeared as ''Bayt Jala'', located in the ''[[Nahiya]]'' of Jabal Quds of the ''[[Liwa (Arabic)|Liwa]]'' of [[Al-Quds]]. The population was 245 households; 6 Muslims and 239 Christians. They paid a fixed tax-rate of 33,3% on agricultural products, which included  wheat, barley, olive trees, vineyards, fruit trees, occasional revenues, goats and beehives; a total of 30,000 [[akçe]].<ref>Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 121</ref>

In 1697 [[Henry Maundrell]] passed Beit Jala, and noted that: "no Turk can live in it above two years. By virtue of this report, whether true or false, the Christians keep the Village to themselves without molestation; no Turk being willing to stake his life experimenting the truth of it."<ref>Maundrell, 1703, p. [https://archive.org/stream/gri_journeyfroma00maun#page/n119/mode/1up 90]</ref>

In the 17th century, the Christians of Beit Jala offered to become [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] if the [[Franciscans]] paid their [[Jizya|jizya tax]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Tramontana |first=Felicita |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvc16s06 |title=Passages of Faith: Conversion in Palestinian villages (17th century) |date=2014 |publisher=Harrassowitz Verlag |isbn=978-3-447-10135-6 |edition=1 |pages=70 |chapter=III. Conversion to Islam in the villages of Dayr Abān and Ṣūbā |doi=10.2307/j.ctvc16s06.8|jstor=j.ctvc16s06 }}</ref>

Beit Jala's inhabitants participated in the [[1834 Arab revolt in Palestine|1834 peasants' revolt in Palestine]] against [[Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt|Ibrahim Pasha]], the [[Muhammad Ali Dynasty|Egyptian]] governor of [[Ottoman Syria|Syria]]. Beit Jala's residents were believed to have taken part in the looting of Egyptian property and on 31 May, Egyptian troops assaulted the village. Ibrahim Pasha put a stop to the attack, but at least 33 men and women were killed in the attack. In addition, the village's livestock was seized. The attack on Beit Jala prompted rebels from the Ta'amira tribe, a local [[Bedouin]] tribe, to enter into Bethlehem to help bolster its defense.<ref>Thomson, 1860, p. 647.</ref>

In 1838, it was noted as a Greek Christian village, located in the ''Beni Hasan'' area, west of Jerusalem.<ref name=Robinson3>Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, Appendix 2, p.  [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearch03robiuoft#page/123/mode/1up 123]</ref> The population was estimated to be around 2000 people.<ref name=Robinson2>Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 2,  pp.  [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearc00smitgoog#page/n344/mode/1up 322] ff</ref>

By the mid-19th century, there were 10 Catholics living in Beit Jala. The Latin Patriarchate founded its first [[parish]] in Palestine in Beit Jala in 1853.<ref>Kildani, 2010, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8N0IvcIjvSYC&pg=PA320  320]</ref> The establishment of the parish faced fierce resistance by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and the inhabitants of Beit Jala, leading to several skirmishes and official complaints to the Ottoman authorities by both sides.<ref>Kildani, 2010, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8N0IvcIjvSYC&pg=PA324 324]-325.</ref> A Latin church was built in Beit Jala and inaugurated on 18 April 1858.<ref>Kildani, 2010, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8N0IvcIjvSYC&pg=PA326 326]</ref> The Jerusalem Society, a [[Protestant]] movement struggled to maintain a presence in Beit Jala in the late 19th century. When a clash between Orthodox and Protestant residents ended with the death of an Orthodox girl, the village's Protestant community was evacuated to [[al-Karak]] in [[Transjordan (region)|Transjordan]] for six months until [[blood money (restitution)|compensation]] was paid to the family of the slain girl.<ref>Kildani, 2010, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8N0IvcIjvSYC&pg=PA558 558]</ref> In 1866, the Russian ambassador to the Ottoman Empire purchased land in Beit Jala and built a girls' school, the first Russian school to be built in Palestine. It had 60 pupils by 1880 and was assigned a Russian principal. In 1886, it became a teachers' training school and was under the administration of the Palestinian Orthodox Imperial Society.<ref>Kildani, 2010, p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8N0IvcIjvSYC&pg=PA343 343]</ref>

[[Albert Socin]] found from an official Ottoman village list from about 1870  that Beit Jala had 234 houses and a population of 874 "Latins", though the population count included men, only.<ref>Socin, 1879, p. [https://archive.org/stream/zeitschriftdesde01deut#page/145/mode/1up 145]</ref> [[Martin Hartmann]] found that Beit Jala  had 232  houses.<ref>Hartmann, 1883, p. [https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_BZobAQAAIAAJ#page/n932/mode/1up 124]</ref>

In 1883, the  [[Palestine Exploration Fund|PEF]]'s ''[[PEF Survey of Palestine|Survey of Western Palestine]]'' (SWP) described ''Beit Jala'' as: "A large and flourishing village of white well-built stone houses, on the slope of a steep hill. The water supply is artificial, with a well in the valley below. The population is said by Pere Lievin to amount to 3,000, of whom 420 are Catholics, and the rest Orthodox Greeks. There is a Greek and a Latin church in the village. There are remarkably fine groves of olives round and beneath the village, and the hill is covered with vineyards which belong to the place."<ref>Conder and Kitchener, 1883, SWP III, p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp03conduoft#page/20/mode/1up 20]</ref>

In 1896 the population of Beit Jala was estimated to be about 2,880  persons.<ref>Schick, 1896, p.  [https://archive.org/stream/zeitschriftdesde19deut#page/n233/mode/1up  126]</ref>

===British Mandate period===
[[File:Christian wedding beit jala.jpg|thumb|Palestinian Christian wedding, Beit Jala, 1940]]
In the [[1922 census of Palestine]], conducted by the [[Mandate for Palestine|British Mandate authorities]], Beit Jala had a population of 3,101; 3,060 Christians and 41 Muslims;<ref>Barron, 1923, Table VII, Sub-district of Bethlehem, p. [https://archive.org/stream/PalestineCensus1922/Palestine%20Census%20%281922%29#page/n20/mode/1up   18]</ref> where the Christians consisted of 2,628 Orthodox, 358 Roman Catholics, 4 Greek Catholic ([[Melkite]]s), and 1 each of the Armenian Catholic, [[Maronite]] and the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Church]].<ref>Barron, 1923, Table XIV, p. [https://archive.org/stream/PalestineCensus1922/Palestine%20Census%20%281922%29#page/n47/mode/1up 45]</ref> In the [[1931 census of Palestine|1931 census]] the population had decreased to 2,731; 2,529 Christians, 198 Muslims, 3 with "no religion" and 1 Jew; in a total of 631 inhabited houses.<ref name="Census1931">Mills, 1932, p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas  35]</ref>

In the [[Village Statistics, 1945|1945 statistics]]  the population of Beit Jala was 3,710; 200 Muslims and 3,510 Christians,<ref name=1945p24>Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics, 1945, p. [http://cs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/VSpages/VS1945_p24.jpg  24]</ref> with 13,307 (rural) and 737 (urban) [[dunam]]s of land according to an official land and population survey.<ref>Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945''. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20I/Jerusalem/Page-056.jpg 56] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20080805000658/http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20I/Jerusalem/Page-056.jpg |date=2008-08-05 }}</ref> 9,860 dunams were plantations and irrigable land, 1,064 for cereals,<ref>Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945''. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20II/Jerusalem/Page-101.jpg  101] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622032419/http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20II/Jerusalem/Page-101.jpg |date=2018-06-22 }}</ref> while 737 dunams were built-up (urban) land.<ref>Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945''. Quoted in Hadawi, 1970, p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20III/Jerusalem/Page-151.jpg  151] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622005333/http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20III/Jerusalem/Page-151.jpg |date=2018-06-22 }}</ref>

By the end of the Mandate, the population of Beit Jala was apprixmately 4,000.<ref>Khalidi, Walid. ''Before Their Diaspora  A Photographic History of the Palestinians, 1876-1948''. Washington, D.C.: Institute for Palestine Studies, 1991, 258.</ref>

===Jordanian period===
{{main|1952 raid on Beit Jala}}
[[File:Beit Jalla (30058249920).jpg|thumb|Historical Building in Beit Jala]]
In the wake of the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], Beit Jala came under [[Jordanian annexation of the West Bank|Jordanian rule]].

The [[Mennonite Central Committee]] (MCC) began relief operations for refugees in the West Bank in 1950. They also worked with Palestinians who had retained their houses and so were not technically refugees, but who had lost their land or means of making a living because of the war. As part of this relief, the MCC founded a school in Beit Jala which was still in operation as of 1979.<ref>{{cite journal| journal=MERIP Reports |number=83| title=US Voluntary Agencies Hassled by Israelis in Territories |author=Larry Ekin |pages=18–22 |jstor=3012397 |date=December 1979|doi=10.2307/3012397 }}</ref>

In 1952, an [[Israel Defense Forces]] [[1952 Beit Jala Raid|reprisal raid]] in Beit Jala killed seven civilians; one man, two women and three children.{{dubious|reason=1+2+3=6, not 7|date=November 2017}} A complaint was lodged that Israel had violated the [[1949 Armistice Agreements|General Armistice agreement]]. The United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation issued a condemnation of Israel for breaching the agreement.<ref>E H Hutchison, "Violent Truce" A Military Observer Looks at the Arab-Israeli Conflict 1951–1955, pp. 12–16.</ref>

In 1961, the population of Beit Jala was  7,966.<ref>Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics, 1964, p. [http://users.cecs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/JordanCensusPages/JordanCensus1961-p07.pdf 07] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060637/http://users.cecs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/JordanCensusPages/JordanCensus1961-p07.pdf |date=2018-01-19 }}</ref>

=== Post 1967 ===
Since the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967, Beit Jala has been under [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli occupation]]. Control of the town was assumed by the Palestinian Authority following the 1993 [[Oslo Accords]]. According to the Beit Jala Municipality, the city's land holdings have been relegated under different areas of administration. [[Palestinian enclaves|Area A]] comprises approximately 3,500 [[dunam|dunums]], or about 25% of the town's land, which is under Palestinian control. The remaining 75% ([[Area C (West Bank)|Area C]]) is under Israeli jurisdiction, and 7% of the total Area C is located inside the Municipality border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beitjala-city.org/index.php/en/beit-jala-city/the-occupation/background|title=Background - Beit Jala Municipality &#124; بلدية بيت جالا|website=www.beitjala-city.org|access-date=2017-02-19|archive-date=2017-03-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320172853/http://www.beitjala-city.org/index.php/en/beit-jala-city/the-occupation/background|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem|ARIJ]], after the war Israel confiscated 3,147 dunums of Beit Jala land in order to expand the Jerusalem municipal boundaries, later taking further land for the two [[Israeli settlement]]s of [[Gilo]] and [[Har Gilo]], the [[West Bank barrier]] and bypass roads.<ref>[http://vprofile.arij.org/bethlehem/pdfs/VP/Beit%20Jala_cp_en.pdf Beit Jala City Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621222212/http://vprofile.arij.org/bethlehem/pdfs/VP/Beit%20Jala_cp_en.pdf |date=2022-06-21 }} ARIJ pp. 23-24</ref>

During the [[Second Intifada]], militants from the [[Fatah]]-affiliated [[Tanzim]] group used Beit Jala as a base for launching sniper and mortar attacks<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/30/world/gilo-waits-for-deliverance-as-mideast-violence-goes-on.html?pagewanted=1|title=Gilo Waits for Deliverance As Mideast Violence Goes On|first=Clyde|last=Haberman|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=30 August 2001|access-date=18 February 2017|archive-date=12 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212234559/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/30/world/gilo-waits-for-deliverance-as-mideast-violence-goes-on.html?pagewanted=1|url-status=live}}</ref> on the  [[Israeli settlement]] of [[Gilo]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998782-5,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604114723/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,998782-5,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2011|title=Fields Of Fire|first=Matt|last=Rees|date=18 December 2000|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> Gilo is located on a hilltop across from Beit Jala, partially built on the lands of Beit Jala, [[Beit Safafa]] and Sharafat.<ref name=APRIJ>[http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=1025 "One more Obstacle to Peace": A new Israeli Neighborhood on the lands of Jerusalem city] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131211621/http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=1025 |date=January 31, 2008 }} Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem, 10 March 2007</ref> The Israeli government built a concrete barrier and installed bulletproof windows in homes and schools facing Beit Jala.<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-03-mn-41607-story.html "It's Back-to-School Day for Israeli children on Gilo's front line"]. ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. 3 September 2001.</ref>
[[File:Tahriri work.jpg|thumb|[[Couching|Couching stitch]] from Beit Jala, 2006]]
Militants were reported to have used the houses of Palestinian Christian residents to fire on Israeli targets in Gilo. Fighters were initially welcomed by residents, but after their homes were attacked by Israeli retaliatory fire and several fighters and residents were killed, they no longer tolerated the militants' presence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-ravaged-palace-that-symbolizes-the-hope-of-peace-2266960.html|title=The ravaged palace that symbolizes the hope of peace|website=[[The Independent]]|date=23 October 2011|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-date=25 December 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131225013457/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/the-ravaged-palace-that-symbolizes-the-hope-of-peace-2266960.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to John Bunzl, the Israeli press used the incident to suggest there was a Christian-Muslim conflict in the incidents, with the former trying to prevent an attack until the Muslims forced them to surrender. Numerous statements taken from Christian residents appear to refute this.<ref>John Bunzl (2004). ''Islam, Judaism, and the Political Role of Religions in the Middle East''. University Press of Florida. pp.&nbsp;78-79.</ref> In August 2001, the [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Army]] occupied the northeastern corner of Beit Jala, declaring that it would only leave when the gunfire on Gilo stopped.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-we-ll-leave-beit-jala-if-firing-stops-1.68346|title=Israel: We'll Leave Beit Jala if Firing Stops|date=29 August 2001|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=21 September 2010|archive-date=26 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026143827/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-we-ll-leave-beit-jala-if-firing-stops-1.68346|url-status=live}}</ref> Two days later, the troops withdrew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2001-08-29/world/mideast_1_palestinian-gunmen-palestinian-witnesses-beit-jala?_s=PM:WORLD|title=Israel leaving Beit Jala, say Palestinians|access-date=2010-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114211858/http://articles.cnn.com/2001-08-29/world/mideast_1_palestinian-gunmen-palestinian-witnesses-beit-jala?_s=PM:WORLD|archive-date=2012-01-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> Palestinian militants subsequently increased their attacks, adding mortars and heavy machine guns. According to [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] magazine, the Palestinian militants were not locals, but took up positions in Beit Jala due to its proximity to Gilo.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,172955,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010902232534/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,172955,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2001|title=Battle of Beit Jala Highlights Mideast Cease-fire Woes|first=Tony|last=Karon|date=29 August 2001|magazine=Time}}</ref> In August 2010, after a long period of calm, the concrete barrier built to protect Gilo was removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/08/gesture-progress-israel-demolishes-massive-concrete-barrier/|title=In gesture of peace progress, Israel demolishes massive concrete barrier|date=15 August 2010|access-date=21 September 2010|archive-date=1 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110201030754/http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/08/gesture-progress-israel-demolishes-massive-concrete-barrier/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Israeli West Bank barrier|Israel barrier in the West Bank]] will separate over 50 Beit Jala families from their land; although Israel says it is a vital security measure.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34020724|title=Christians appeal on W Bank barrier|first=Yolande|last=Knell|work=BBC News|date=21 August 2015|access-date=19 August 2018|archive-date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820011243/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34020724|url-status=live}}</ref> Palestinians believe the ultimate aim of the barrier is a land grab as it is built inside the occupied West Bank on land Palestinians want for a future independent state. Local church leaders - Latin Catholic and Greek Orthodox - have been involved in the campaign to prevent the construction of the barrier.<ref name=BBC/>

==Geography==
The Israel [[bypass road]] known as the [[Highway 60 (Israel–Palestine)#Bypass roads|Tunnels Highway]] passes directly underneath Beit Jala.<ref>{{cite journal|jstor=25164857|journal=Middle East Report|title=Dromocratic Palestine|author=John Collins|pages=8–13|number=248|date=Fall 2008}}</ref>

==Demographics==
This town's Christian inhabitants are made up of five Christian tribes that trace their origins as Aramaic-and Arabic speaking people who lived in that area near Bethlehem prior to the [[Muslim conquest of Syria|Muslim conquest]] in 634. At the [[1931 census of Palestine]] the population of Beit Jala was 2,732. This included 196 Muslims, 2,532 Christians, and one Jew.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Economic Geography|jstor=141560|title=Urban Population of Palestine|author1=E. Ray Casto|author2=Oscar W. Dotson|pages=68–72|volume=14|number=1|date=January 1938|doi=10.2307/141560}}</ref> In 1947, Beit Jala had a population of approximately 3,700. In 1967, according to a census conducted by the Israeli Army Command, the population was 6,041.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Middle Eastern Studies|title=Changes in the Settlement Pattern of Judea and Samaria during Jordanian Rule|author=Elisha Efrat|pages=97–111|jstor=4282623|volume=13|number=1|date=January 1977|doi=10.1080/00263207708700337}}</ref> The population in 2007 was 11,758 according to the [[Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics]].<ref name="PCBS"/>

==Economy==
[[Cremisan]] Cellars, located in the Cremisan [[monastery]], is an important local winemaker. The winery has operated since the establishment of the monastery in the 19th century. Modern equipment was introduced in 1997.<ref name="Beth">{{cite web |url=http://www.bethlehem.ps/shopping/wine.php |title=Wine |last=Jahsan |first=Ruby |publisher=The Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation |access-date=2008-01-29 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071117144242/http://www.bethlehem.ps/shopping/wine.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-17}}</ref> Beit Jala was once famous for its pork, olive oil, apricots and stone masonry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mafhoum.com/press7/222P10.htm|title=Jerusalem Post - Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World|website=www.mafhoum.com|access-date=2010-09-21|archive-date=2010-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308101732/http://www.mafhoum.com/press7/222P10.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Other economic branches are tobacco, textiles, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. The Beit Jala Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Company (formerly Jordan Chemical Laboratory) was established in 1958 to manufacture generic drug pharmaceutical products for the local market.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beitjalapharma.com/index.php|title=Beit Jala Pharmaceutical-english|website=www.beitjalapharma.com|access-date=2009-09-06|archive-date=2009-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831104000/http://www.beitjalapharma.com/index.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[West Bank Barrier]] is being extended to encircle the area, splitting the monastery, which would end up on the Israeli side, from the sister [[Salesian]] convent, and making access to this recreational area for Beit Jala residents very difficult. 57 Christian families are slated to lose their agricultural property.<ref>Yolande Knell (3 May 2012). [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16656978 "Bethlehem nuns in West Bank barrier battle"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308144753/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16656978 |date=2023-03-08 }}. BBC News.</ref>

==Health care==
[[File:Beit Jala Hospital 002.jpg|thumb|Beit Jala Governmental Hospital (Al-Hussein)]]
Beit Jala has a government-run 113-bed hospital, and a 77-bed privately run specialized surgery hospital operated by the Arab Society for Rehabilitation. Primary health care is provided by the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Health. In addition, there are many charities, medical institutions and private health clinics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beitjala-city.org/index.php?page=city&pid=18&parentId=16&PHPSESSID=113c3634db86bd7df80dc6f319b609db|title=Beit Jala Municipality|access-date=2010-09-21|archive-date=2011-07-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723223706/http://www.beitjala-city.org/index.php?page=city&pid=18&parentId=16&PHPSESSID=113c3634db86bd7df80dc6f319b609db|url-status=live}}</ref> Societies for the disabled in Beit Jala include the Bethlehem Arab Society,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.basr.org/|title= (BASR)|website=www.basr.org|access-date=2006-04-19|archive-date=2006-04-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060424054437/http://www.basr.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lifegate Rehabilitation<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lifegate-reha.de/english/index/e_index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040613101541/http://www.lifegate-reha.de/english/index/e_index.htm|title=Lifegate Rehabilitation|archivedate=June 13, 2004}}</ref> and House Jemima, a [[Netherlands|Dutch]]-founded home and daycare-center for children with mental disabilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jemima.eu/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060115191757/http://www.jemima.eu/|title=Home - Jemima|archivedate=January 15, 2006|website=www.jemima.eu|access-date=October 4, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Al-Hussein Governmental Hospital, Beit Jala]] is a government hospital here.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}

==Schools and religious institutions==
[[File:Church Beit Jallah - panoramio.jpg|thumb|250px|Catholic church in Beit Jala]]
Beit Jala is home to educational institutions run by a variety of Christian denominations, including the Arab Orthodox Benevolent Society. A [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] school was established in 1866. The [[Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem|Latin Patriarchate]] [[Seminary]], which supervises religious [[liturgy|liturgical]] education in the Jerusalem Patriarchate, moved to Beit Jala in 1936.

The [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land]] (ELCJHL) has a congregation in Beit Jala.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elcjhl.org/mission.asp|publisher=The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land|title=History and Mission|access-date=August 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215202718/http://www.elcjhl.org/mission.asp|archive-date=February 15, 2012}}</ref> The denomination also runs the [[Talitha Kumi School]] in Beit Jala, which was founded by Lutheran deaconesses in the 19th century and relocated in Beit Jala in 1961.<ref name="elcjhl.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.elcjhl.org/ed/schools/talitha/talitha.asp|title=Talitha Kumi Evangelical Lutheran School, Beit Jala|publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land|access-date=August 22, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701221205/http://www.elcjhl.org/ed/schools/talitha/talitha.asp|archive-date=July 1, 2012}}</ref> The school has developed an environmental education program and operates the only bird-ringing station in the Palestinian sector. The school also runs a guesthouse.<ref name="elcjhl.org"/>
[[File:St. Nicholas Church .jpg|thumb|St. Nicholas Church]]
The Beit Jala skyline is dominated by several [[church (building)|churches]], among them the Church of the Virgin Mary, the Church of St. Michael, and the Church of [[Saint Nicholas]]. According to tradition, St. Nicholas spent four years in a cave beneath the Church.<ref>[http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2014/12/19/west-bank-town-takes-pride-in-links-to-st-nicholas-celebrates-dec-19/ Crux: "West Bank town takes pride in links to St. Nicholas" By Judith Sudilovsky] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220072026/http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2014/12/19/west-bank-town-takes-pride-in-links-to-st-nicholas-celebrates-dec-19/ |date=2014-12-20 }} December 19, 2014</ref> These three churches belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. The Latin Church of Annunciation is the Catholic church built in 1850.

The [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] runs the Mar Afram school in Beit Jala. In 2007, Mar Afram started offering classes in [[Aramaic]] (more specifically, [[Syriac language|Syriac Aramaic]]) to its students, which were taught by elderly residents of the town who still spoke the waning language fluently.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=AWNB&p_text_direct-0=document_id=%28%2013F2858B7148F180%20%29&p_docid=13F2858B7148F180&p_theme=aggdocs&p_queryname=13F2858B7148F180&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=Q62N54TLMTM0NTY3NjIxMS43NjkyNDM6MToxMzoxOTIuMTYwLjIxNi4w&&p_multi=CCTB|title=Attempts to revive language spoken in Jesus' time|work=[[Cape Cod Times]] |date=June 2, 2012|access-date=August 22, 2012|author=Diaa Hadid}}</ref>

==Local government==
In the [[Palestinian municipal election, 2005|2005 municipal election]], six seats went to the United Beit Jala list ([[Fatah]] and [[Palestinian People's Party]]), five seats went to Sons of the Land ([[Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine|PFLP]] and independents), one seat went to Independent Beit Jala Group and one candidate was elected as an independent. The most popular candidate was Raji George Jadallah Zeidan of United Jala with 2,892 votes, followed by Nadir Antoun Issa Abu Amsha of Sons of the Land with 1764 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Municipal_Elections_Results_EN_(2).pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229093222/http://www.elections.ps/pdf/Municipal_Elections_Results_EN_(2).pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-02-29|title=Municipal Election results|page=24}}</ref>

== Sports ==
The Beit Jala Lions is a [[rugby football|rugby]] club active in Beit Jala since 2007. Hailed as the first all-Palestinian rugby team in history, the team is made up almost exclusively of residents of Beit Jala.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=28311 | title=Rugby Goes Palestinian | publisher=Ma'an News Agency | date=2008-03-15 | author=Chris Toenjes | access-date=2008-10-24 | archive-date=2008-05-17 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517225137/http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=28311 | url-status=live }}</ref>

== Prominent people from Beit Jala ==
{{Incomplete list|date=November 2023}}

*[[Tawfiq Canaan]]
* [[Toni Qattan]]
* [[Ghassan Zaqtan]]

== International relations ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Palestine}}
Beit Jala is twin or sister cities with:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Twinning Agreements - Beit Jala Municipality {{!}} بلدية بيت جالا |url=http://www.beitjala-city.org/en/beit-jala-municipality/twinning-agreements |access-date=2025-09-19 |website=www.beitjala-city.org}}</ref>

* {{Flag icon|Chile}} [[La Calera, Chile]]
* {{Flag icon|France}} [[Aubervilliers]], France
* {{Flag icon|Germany}} [[Bergisch Gladbach]], Germany
* {{Flag icon|Germany}} [[Jena]], Germany
* {{Flag icon|Italy}} [[Varazze]], Italy
* {{Flag icon|Peru}} [[Santa Maria del Mar District]], Peru
Beit Jala has friendship agreements with:<ref name=":1" />

* {{Flag icon|France}} [[Grenoble]], France
* {{Flag icon|Italy}} [[Reggio Emilia]], Italy
* {{Flag icon|Italy}} [[Trento]], Italy

Representatives from Beit Jala and [[Valfabbrica]], Italy, signed a Declaration of Intent in 2012.<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
*[[Palestinian Christians]]
*[[Palestinian diaspora]]
*[[West Bank]]

==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}

==Bibliography==
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*{{cite book|last1=Robinson|first1=E.|author-link1=Edward Robinson (scholar)|last2=Smith|first2=E.|author-link2=Eli Smith|year=1841|url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearc01smitgoog|title=Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838|location=Boston|publisher=[[Crocker & Brewster]]|volume=1}} (p. [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearc01smitgoog#page/n354/mode/1up 322] )
*{{cite book|last1=Robinson|first1=E.|author-link1=Edward Robinson (scholar)|last2=Smith|first2=E.|author-link2=Eli Smith|year=1841|url=https://archive.org/details/biblicalresearc00smitgoog|title=Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838|location=Boston|publisher=[[Crocker & Brewster]]|volume=2}}
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*{{cite journal |last=Toledano |first=E. |author-link=Ehud R. Toledano |title=The Sanjaq of Jerusalem in the Sixteenth Century: Aspects of Topography and Population |url=http://alkindi.ideo-cairo.org/manifestation/61348 |journal=Archivum Ottomanicum |volume=9 |pages=279–319 |date=1984 |access-date=2017-06-10 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305061358/http://alkindi.ideo-cairo.org/manifestation/61348 |url-status=live }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180315025543/http://beitjala-city.org/ Official Site of Beit Jala]
*[http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/Bayt_Jala_866/index.html Welcome To The City of Bayt Jala]
*Survey of Western Palestine, Map 17: [http://www.iaa-archives.org.il/zoom/zoom.aspx?folder_id=93&type_id=6&id=8379  IAA], [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Survey_of_Western_Palestine_1880.17.jpg Wikimedia commons]
*[http://vprofile.arij.org/bethlehem/pdfs/EN/Beit%20Jala%20City_fs_en.pdf Beit Jala City (Fact Sheet)],  [[Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem]] (ARIJ)
*[http://vprofile.arij.org/bethlehem/pdfs/VP/Beit%20Jala_cp_en.pdf Beit Jala City Profile], (ARIJ)
*[http://vprofile.arij.org/bethlehem/images/areal/Beit%20Jala_ap_en.jpg  Beit Jala City Area Photo], (ARIJ)
*[http://vprofile.arij.org/bethlehem/pdfs/needsfordevelopment/Beit%20Jala_cp_en.pdf The priorities and needs for development in Beit Jala city based on the community and local authorities’ assessment], (ARIJ)
*[http://www.talithakumi.org Talitha Kumi School]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060115191757/http://www.jemima.eu/ House Jemima]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040613101541/http://www.lifegate-reha.de/english/index/e_index.html Lifegate Rehabilitation]
*[http://www.basr.org Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation]
*[http://www.nativityhotel.com Nativity Hotel in Beit Jala]

{{Cities in Palestinian National Authority areas}}
{{Bethlehem Governorate}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Beit Jala| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the West Bank]]
[[Category:Palestinian Christian communities]]
[[Category:Canaanite cities]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Palestine]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Bethlehem Governorate]]