Beitunia

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title: "Beitunia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ramallah-and-al-bireh-governorate", "cities-in-the-west-bank", "throne-villages", "municipalities-of-palestine"] topic_path: "geography" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beitunia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameBeitunia
native_nameبيتونيا
translit_lang1Arabic
translit_lang1_typeArabic
translit_lang1_infoبيتونيا
translit_lang1_type1Latin
translit_lang1_info1Beituniya (official)
Beatonia (unofficial)
typeMunicipality type B
image_skylineBeitunia-Sperranlage.jpg
image_captionView of the city from the west
image_blank_emblemBeitunia_Logo.gif
blank_emblem_typeMunicipal Seal of Beitunia
pushpin_mapPalestine
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Beitunia within Palestine
coordinates
grid_namePalestine grid
grid_position166/143
subdivision_typeState
subdivision_nameState of Palestine
subdivision_type1Governorate
subdivision_name1Ramallah and al-Bireh
established_titleFounded
government_footnotestags --
government_typeMunicipality
leader_titleHead of Municipality
leader_nameRibhi Dola
unit_prefdunam
area_total_km226.2
area_total_dunam26174
population_total26,604
population_as_of2017
population_footnotes
population_metro153,237
population_density_km2auto
blank_name_sec1Name meaning
blank_info_sec1Beitunia, personal name
websitewww.beitunia.ps
::

| name = Beitunia | native_name = بيتونيا | translit_lang1 = Arabic | translit_lang1_type = Arabic | translit_lang1_info = بيتونيا | translit_lang1_type1 = Latin | translit_lang1_info1 = Beituniya (official) Beatonia (unofficial) | type = Municipality type B | image_skyline = Beitunia-Sperranlage.jpg | image_caption = View of the city from the west | image_blank_emblem = Beitunia_Logo.gif | blank_emblem_type = Municipal Seal of Beitunia | pushpin_map = Palestine | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Beitunia within Palestine | image_map = | map_caption = | coordinates = | grid_name = Palestine grid | grid_position = 166/143 | subdivision_type = State | subdivision_name = State of Palestine | subdivision_type1 = Governorate | subdivision_name1 = Ramallah and al-Bireh | established_title = Founded | established_date = | government_footnotes = tags -- | government_type = Municipality | leader_title = Head of Municipality | leader_name = Ribhi Dola | unit_pref = dunam | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 26.2 | area_total_dunam = 26174 | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_max_m = | population_total = 26,604 | population_as_of = 2017 | population_footnotes = | population_metro = 153,237 | population_note = | population_density_km2 = auto | blank_name_sec1 = Name meaning | blank_info_sec1 = Beitunia, personal name | website = www.beitunia.ps | footnotes = Beitunia (), also Bitunya, is a Palestinian city located 3 km west of Ramallah and 14 km north of Jerusalem, in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate of Palestine, in the central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the city had a population of 26,604 in 2017, making it the third largest locality in its governorate after al-Bireh and Ramallah.

History

Potsherds from the Byzantine, Mamluk and early Ottoman period have been found. A 1982 survey found two pillars and remnants of an olive press, along with another pillar located in one of the courtyards. The Mandatory DOA documented a medieval structure in ruins, characterized by vaults, alongside a white mosaic floor, a damaged pillar, a winepress, a rock-cut reservoir, and burial caves. (In 1883, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine mentioned that "[t]o the east are cisterns, wine-preses, and a pond (el-Balûā), which contains water in winter. On the north and east are rock-cut tombs with well-cut entrances, but blocked up.").

To the east are cisterns, wine-presses, and a pond (el-Balûā), which contains water in winter. On the north and east are rock-cut tombs with well-cut entrances, but blocked up.

Crusader period

In 1883, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine suggested that Beitunia was the Crusader village Uniet, which was one of 21 villages given by King Godfrey as a fief to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. However, in 1887, Röhricht identified Beitunia with Beitiumen, another fief given by the King to the Holy Sepulchre. Conder found this to be "evidently correct" and hence "very doubtful" that Beitunia was Uniet. Abel, writing in 1931, suggested that Beitunia was Beit Uniet, mentioned in an early 12th-century text.

A large vaulted building in the town, named Badd al-Balad ("oil press of the village"), later part of several modern houses, has been dated to the Crusader period.

Ottoman period

Beitunia, like the rest of Palestine, was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517, and in the census of 1596, the village was located in the Nahiya of Quds of the Liwa of Quds. The population was 75 households and 5 bachelors, all Muslim. They paid a fixed tax rated of 33,3% on wheat, barley, olives, vineyards, fruit trees, goats and/or beehives, in addition to occasional revenues; a total of 23,000 akçe.

In 1738 Richard Pococke called it "a place called Bethany to the north."

The American scholar Edward Robinson noted it in 1838, as a Muslim village, part of the El-Kuds district.

In 1870 the French explorer Victor Guérin found that Beitunia contained six hundred inhabitants. Socin found from an official Ottoman village list from about the same year (1870) that Beitunia had a total of 147 houses and a population of 481, though the population count included men, only.

Several inscriptions, dating to 1873-74 and forwards, have been described from the house of the village Mukhtar.

In 1883, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine described Beitunia as "A good-sized village of stone, surrounded by olives, standing high on a flat rocky ridge, with a plain to the east. To the east are cisterns, wine-presses, and a pond (el-Balûā), which contains water in winter. On the north and east are rock-cut tombs with well-cut entrances, but blocked up."

In 1896 the population of Betunja was estimated to be about 1,056 persons.

British Mandate

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Betunia_wedding.cropped.jpg" caption="Wedding procession, between 1934 and 1939"] ::

In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities, Beitunia had a population of 948 Muslim, increasing in the 1931 census to 1,213, still all Muslim, in 277 houses.

Due to a lack of economic opportunities in the early 20th century, many people emigrated. Some went to the Chicago area, and were involved in the startup of the Bridgeview Mosque.

In the 1945 statistics the population was 1,490, all Muslims, while the total land area was 23,366 dunams, according to an official land and population survey. Of this, 7,854 were allocated for plantations and irrigable land, 8,381 for cereals, while 77 dunams were classified as built-up areas.

Jordanian period

In the wake of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and after the 1949 Armistice Agreements, Beitunia came under Jordanian rule.

In 1961, the population of Beituniya was 2,216.

Post-1967

Since the Six-Day War in 1967, Beitunia has been under Israeli occupation. After 1995, under the Oslo Accords, 3,759 dunums (17.8%) of the town's lands were classified as Area A, 472 dunums (2.2%) were classified as Area B, while the remaining 16,896 dunums (80%) were classified as Area C. Israel has confiscated land from Beitunia in order to construct two Israeli settlements: Beit Horon and Giv'at Ze'ev.

Second Intifada: Israeli West Bank barrier, killings

The Second Intifada took place between September 2000 and February 2005. In June 2002, Israel began building the West Bank barrier.

Beitunia's land area consists of 2, 617.4 hectares (26,174 dunams) of which 336.2 hectares is built-up area. The Israeli West Bank barrier separates the urban area from 66% of the town's lands, however, most of the cut-off territory (Seam Zone) is made-up of forest and open spaces making it prime agricultural and grazing land.

According to the Oslo Accords, the IDF is prevented from entering areas A (an area under full Palestinian Authority control), but Operation Defensive Shield in March to May 2002 abolished this distinction when the IDF searched that year in Beitunia for a suspect who wanted to make himself a "martyr." The IDF-search extended to Qalandiya, Bayt Surik, Bayt Deko, al-Judeirah, and Hizma. Fadel Abu Zahira (9 years old) was shot and killed on 18 April 2002 in his own home in Beitunia. The bullet came from an armored vehicle and went through the window.

Hussein Mahmoud 'Awad 'Alian (17 years old) was killed by Israeli gunfire on 16 April 2004 during demonstrations against the barrier.

Killings after the Second Intifada

Two boys, Nadim Nawarah and Mohammad Odeh, were shot and killed in the Beitunia killings on 15 May 2014. One Israeli policeman was arrested for Nawarah's death, and was later under a plea deal sentenced to 9 months in jail.

Salah ad-Din Mosque

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/Salah_Dein_Mosque.JPG" caption="Salah ad-Din Mosque"] ::

Salah ad-Din Mosque is located to the west of the city and was established in 2002. It is named related to the old Muslim leader Salah ad-Din al-Ayubi. It is considered one of the main mosques in the area. It consists of 3 floors and has a capacity for approximately 500 persons.

References

Bibliography

References

  1. (February 2018). "Preliminary Results of the Population, Housing and Establishments Census, 2017". [[State of Palestine]].
  2. Palmer, 1881, p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp00conduoft#page/287/mode/1up 287]
  3. Finkelstein et al. (1997), pp. 346-7.
  4. Conder and Kitchener (1883), SWP III, "Beit Unia", p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp03conduoft#page/8/mode/1up 8].
  5. Conder and Kitchener (1883), SWP III, "Beitûnia", p. [https://archive.org/stream/surveyofwesternp03conduoft#page/11/mode/1up. 11].
  6. Röhricht (1887), p. [https://archive.org/stream/zeitschriftdesde09deut#page/205/mode/1up 205]
  7. de Roziére (1849), pp. [https://archive.org/stream/cartulairedelgl00jergoog#page/n110/mode/1up 98], [https://archive.org/stream/cartulairedelgl00jergoog#page/n114/mode/1up 102]: ''Beituimen''; both cited in Röhricht (1893), RRH, pp. 16- [https://archive.org/stream/regestaregnihie00rhgoog#page/n25/mode/1up 17], No 74.
  8. Conder (1890), pp. [https://archive.org/stream/quarterlystateme21pale#page/30/mode/1up 30], [https://archive.org/stream/quarterlystateme21pale#page/32/mode/1up 32]
  9. Pringle (1997), Baituniya (No. 40), p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-_NbE5obqRMC&pg=PA29 29]
  10. Pringle (2009), pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=tKwienZI03MC&pg=PA235 235]-240.
  11. Hütteroth and Abdulfattah, 1977, p. 121
  12. Pococke, 1745, vol 2, p. [https://archive.org/details/gri_33125009339611/page/n80/mode/1up 49] NB "east" is probable typo for "west"
  13. Robinson & Smith, 1841, vol 2, pp. [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearc00smitgoog#page/n155/mode/1up 133], [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearc00smitgoog#page/n157/mode/1up 135]
  14. Robinson and Smith (1841), vol. 3, Appendix 2, p. [https://archive.org/stream/biblicalresearch03robiuoft#page/121/mode/1up 121].
  15. Guérin, 1875, p. [https://archive.org/stream/descriptiongogr04gugoog#page/n67/mode/1up 46]
  16. Socin, 1879, p. [https://archive.org/stream/zeitschriftdesde01deut#page/144/mode/1up 144] It was also noted to be in the [[El-Kuds]] district
  17. Hartmann (1883), p. [https://archive.org/stream/bub_gb_BZobAQAAIAAJ#page/n935/mode/1up 127] noted 148 houses
  18. Sharon (1999), p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=EPFDU8POrXIC&pg=PA240 240] ff.
  19. Schick (1896), p. [https://archive.org/stream/zeitschriftdesde19deut#page/n228/mode/1up 121].
  20. Barron (1923), Table VII, Sub-district of Ramallah, p. [https://archive.org/stream/PalestineCensus1922/Palestine%20Census%20%281922%29#page/n18/mode/1up 16].
  21. Mills (1932), p. [https://archive.org/details/CensusOfPalestine1931.PopulationOfVillagesTownsAndAdministrativeAreas 48].
  22. [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0402080265feb08,0,3486861.story?page=1 Hard-liners won battle for Bridgeview mosque], February 8, 2004 [[Chicago Tribune]].
  23. [http://www.wbez.org/news/culture/forget-poles-palestinians-find-home-suburban-chicago-105416 Forget Poles: Palestinians find a home in suburban Chicago] {{Webarchive. link. (2016-02-05 , February 7, 2013, webz.org.)
  24. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics (1945), p. [http://cs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/VSpages/VS1945_p26.jpg 26].
  25. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945.'' Quoted in Hadawi (1970), p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20I/Ramallah/Page-064.jpg 64].
  26. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945.'' Quoted in Hadawi (1970), p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20II/Ramallah/Page-111.jpg 111].
  27. Government of Palestine, Department of Statistics. ''Village Statistics, April, 1945.'' Quoted in Hadawi (1970), p. [http://www.palestineremembered.com/download/VillageStatistics/Table%20III/Ramallah/Page-161.jpg 161].
  28. Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics (1964), p. [http://users.cecs.anu.edu.au/~bdm/yabber/census/JordanCensusPages/JordanCensus1961-p15.pdf 15].
  29. [http://poica.org/2007/11/betunia-a-palestinian-community-victimized-by-the-israeli-colonization-activities/ Betunia: A Palestinian Community], POICA.
  30. [http://vprofile.arij.org/ramallah/pdfs/vprofile/Beituniya_tp_en.pdf Beituniya Town Profile], ARIJ, pp. 17-18.
  31. link. (December 15, 2007 Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem 2007-11-11.)
  32. [[Nahum Barnea]], [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4780153,00.html 'Beitunian nights: The IDF in the West Bank'], [[Ynet]] 18 March 2016.
  33. [http://www.btselem.org/statistics/fatalities/before-cast-lead/by-date-of-event/westbank/palestinian-minors-killed-by-israeli-security-forces Palestinian minors killed by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, before Operation "Cast Lead"] [[B'Tselem]].
  34. [https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/12/world/meast/israel-arrest-palestinian-shooting/ Israeli policeman arrested in Palestinian teen's death], CNN
  35. Parker, Brad (4 June 2017). [https://972mag.com/even-forensics-cant-stop-palestinian-teens-killer-walking-free/127842/ Even forensics can't stop Palestinian teen's killer walking free], [[+972 Magazine]].
  36. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-cop-sentenced-to-9-months-for-killing-palestinian-teen/ Israeli cop sentenced to 9 months for killing Palestinian teen], Gross and Staff, 25 April 2018, [[The Times of Israel]].

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ramallah-and-al-bireh-governoratecities-in-the-west-bankthrone-villagesmunicipalities-of-palestine