بلدية بيت جالا

Welcome to Beit Jala City

Beit Jala is situated approximately 2 kilometres from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, traditionally recognised as the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Its name is derived from Aramaic and means “carpet of grass.”

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History & Culture

Situated on a hill adjacent to Bethlehem, the city of Beit Jala has existed for thousands of years, and its Christian community is one of the oldest in the world. The name ‘Beit Jala’ comes from Aramaic and means, “Grass Carpet”. Anthropological evidence shows that humans have lived in the Bethlehem area since pre-historical times, even as far back as the Stone Age 200,000 years ago. Little is known about the first permanent dwellings in Beit Jala, but it is likely that the Canaanites settled there about the same time as in neighboring Bethlehem, around 3,000 BC. Beit Jala is thought to be one of several possible locations of the biblical city of Gilo, mentioned in Joshua 15:51 and II Samuel 15:12.

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Numbers and Statistics

14563

City Population

13km²

City Area

775m

Above Sea Level

250.000

Annual Visitor Rate

Mayor Message - Vladimir Kharoufeh

To those who carried in their eyelids the hymns of the ancient streets, those standing in the darkness despite the light of the sun, the dreamers of tomorrow, with light, candles, and freedom, I would like to say to all of you that the fire will be extinguished, the smoke will fly, and hope will remain. I would like to say to the worker, from the sweat of your brow, the buds shone and spread virtues in my homeland despite the restraints. The chains were broken and we were armed with the culture of awareness and science, and we became valiant knights in thought, word and deed.

Read the Mayor's Message

Coming Soon Explore the City of Beit Jala through a Complete Virtual Tour

Beit Jala 360