Bethlehem

Beit Jala

Beit Sahour

Other Sites in the Bethlehem Area

Bethlehem

There is evidence that hominids lived in the Bethlehem area dating from the lower Paleolithic era. Local springs, particularly al-‘Ain, near the Church of the Nativity, encouraged habitation and, later, a Canaanite population developed a village here. The first historical mention of the town was in the fourteenth century BC, in one of the Amarna Letters (diplomatic communications from the Canaanite princes to the pharaohs of Egypt); the king of Jerusalem claimed the town, which evidently was seeking to set itself up as a city-state called Beit Lahmu, the name of a protective goddess.

Much later, Bethlehem was mentioned in the Old Testament as Ephrata, where, according to the Bible, ruled King David who was an Ephrathite of Bethlehem-Judah. Bethlehem was subsequently just another ordinary Palestinian village or town until the day when the birth of a child made powerful King Herod tremble; his reign was already threatened by the growing popularity of various messianic religious movements. It was still several centuries until the prophetic message of Jesus became the state religion.

After Constantine’s Edict of Tolerance in 313 AD, Bethlehem quickly became a popular place for Christian pilgrims; many churches and monasteries were built in the region, and Bethlehem became a prosperous, fortified city, as is shown in the sixth-century Madaba Map. In 638, Caliph Omar Ibn al-Khattab conquered Bethlehem and signed a treaty with Patriarch Sophronius guaranteeing Christians the right to own property, to enjoy freedom of worship and to maintain religious property. With the exception of the periods of Crusader occupation (1099-1187 and 1228-1144), Bethlehem reverted to being a small prosperous market town, continuing to welcome occasional pilgrims, until the nineteenth century. In Crusader times, kings were crowned in Bethlehem, and its unpretentious parish was promoted to the rank of an Episcopal seat in 1110 AD, as the town found itself at the heart of the invaders’ ambitions.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, colonial powers vied for a foothold in Bethlehem, promoting the establishment of different religious orders here. Bethlehem flourished, but its prosperity was over-dependent on outsiders. The Christian institutions contributed to improvements in health and education in the Palestinian Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic communities, but these positive initiatives proved to be doubleedged: the influence of the mother foundations abroad, particularly in North America, much encouraged emigration. Confronted at close quarters by the injustices of the British colonial system as well as the Zionist threat, the residents of Bethlehem firmly took up the cause of Arab and Palestinian nationalism.

In the 1920s and 1930s, the Palestinians of Bethlehem and Beit Jala mounted numerous public campaigns against the British law that repealed citizenship of many Palestinian emigrants but granted citizenship to Jewish immigrants after a mere two years of residence. At the same time, the British cracked down hard on representatives of Bethlehem and its vicinity.

In 1938, Issa Bandak, the mayor of Bethlehem since 1935, and co-founder of The Reform Party, was deported by the British occupation authorities. In Deheisheh, a suburb of Bethlehem, one of the last armed victories over the Zionist movement and its military forces took place on March 27, 1948. In that battle, 25 Jewish settlers were killed, 149 others were evacuated by British forces and 22 vehicles were destroyed. Bethlehem subsequently became a sanctuary for countless Palestinian refugees expelled from their villages. Population figures rose from 9,000 to nearly 20,000, while an additional 40,000 refugees stayed temporarily in Bethlehem on their way into exile.

The town today

Clinging to a rocky spur, Bethlehem dominates a vast hinterland, some of which is desert. To the east, arid hillsides plunge steeply into the Jordan Valley. In the distance, the horizon is formed by the high Jordanian plateau. Bethlehem (27,000 residents) constitutes, together with the towns of Beit Sahour (to the east) and Beit Jala (to the west) and the three refugee camps, Aida, Beit Jibrin or ‘Azza, and Deheisheh, an agglomeration of over 61,000 people. The Bethlehem district, encompassing the surrounding villages, numbers over 136,000 people. Dominated by minarets and bell towers, the city affirms its religious diversity: it has a Muslim majority (65%) and a strong Christian minority (35%). Almost every Christian community is represented: Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic (Latin), Armenian, Lutheran and Syrian, all sharing the same Arab Palestinian culture.

The local economy is heavily dependent on tourism, which employs up to 20% of the working population. Since the Second Intifada, this tourism has been badly hit and the Wall and surrounding checkpoints imprison Bethlehem, Beit Sahour and Beit Jala.

Tourism Office (Bethlehem Peace Centre, Manger Square, 02-276 6677)

Sites of Interest

The Palestinian Heritage Centre 

At the crossroads of Manger and Caritas streets. Open Monday-Saturday, 9:00-21:00, free admission; 02 274 2381. It is possible to arrange a display of traditional costumes.

Rachel’s Tomb 

Jerusalem-Hebron Road. Open Sunday -Thursday 7:30-16:00. Friday 7:30-13:30.

Bethlehem University 

University Road. 02-274 1241/6 www.bethlehem.edu

The Salesian Convent and Church 

Salesian Street, 02-2742421

The International Center / Lutheran Christmas Church 

Paul VI Street. Open 9:00-16:00; 02-277 0047; workshop and handicrafts shop (glassware and pottery)

The Syrian Orthodox Church 

Paul VI Street. Opening hours 9:00-17:00; 02-274 4757 (Father Yacoub Isa’ac).

The Green Market

The Olive Press Museum

The Old Bethlehem Museum

Off Paul VI Street on Star Street, near Manger Square. OpenMonday-Saturday 10:00-17:00, NIS8, 02-274 2589, www.arabwomenunion.org, bawu8@hotmail.com.
Embroidery made and sold here.

The Mosque of Omar 

At the corner of Paul VI Street and Manger Square

Manger Square 

To travel from Bab ez-Zqaq to Manger Square in a private taxi costs NIS 7.

Bethlehem Peace Centre

at Manger Square ( 02-276 6677 www.peacecenter.org)

The Basilica of the Nativity

Open daily 5:00-19:30 (18:30 in winter); free admission; 02-274 2425

The Milk Grotto

Milk Grotto Street. Open every day 8:00-11:00, 14:00 -18:00; free admission.

David’s Wells

Star Street. Open every day 7:00-12:00, 14:00-19:00; free admission.

Al-Khader Church (Saint George’s):
Jerusalem-Hebron Road, al-Khader Gate; 02-274 3233,daily 8:00-12:00 and 15:00-19:00. Free entry).

Solomon’s Pools 

Near the village of al-Khader.

Contacts

Al-Liqa’ (Centre for Religious and Heritage Studies in the Holy Land):
Jerusalem-Hebron Road, 02-274 1639, email: alliqa@p-ol.com; open Monday-Friday 8:00-15:00, Saturday 8:00-14:00.

Citizens’ Committees of the Refugee Camps in the Bethlehem District
Contact: Mohammed al-Laham (Abu Khalil) 0505-619385. 

The Ibdaa Cultural Centre
fax: 02-277-6444 www.dheisheh-ibdaa.net; hostelrooms for $15 per person.

Beit Jala

Overview

Beit Jala is one of the three towns which form Greater Bethlehem. It has a population of over 12,000 people: 7,000 Greek Orthodox, 2,500 Roman Catholics, 2,000 Muslims and 500 Protestants. Perched on a hill 930 metres high, Beit Jala was originally surrounded by orchards and vineyards; olives and apricots are the major crops. Beit Jala has lost much of its land to successive Israeli colonisation in the area. Three separate settlements (Gilo, Har Gilo, and Giv’at Hamatos) as well as two tunnels and two Israeli by-pass roads solely for settler use (and forbidden for Palestinian use) have been constructed on these agricultural lands.

During the Oslo “peace process,” the land of Beit Jala municipality was completely divided into various administrative zones. One quarter (25%) of the municipality is in Area A under Palestinian administration. The other 75% of the land is under total Israeli control (Area C) of which 7% has been annexed to Jerusalem. Beit Jala was systematically exposed to shelling by the Israeli army from the Gilo settlement, at the beginning of the al-Aqsa Intifada. Many houses were partially or totally destroyed and churches, mosques, schools and private homes suffered serious damage.

Sites of Interest

Saint Nicolas Church

Nijma Street; : 02-274 2493.

The Cremisan Salesian Monastery

Cremisan Road; 02-274 4826/7. A visit to the cellars must be reserved in advance.

Contacts

Badil (Resource Centre for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights)

Near Bab ez-Zqaq. 02-274 7346, www.badil.org

Environmental Education Centre (Children for the Protection of Nature in Palestine)

02-276 5574; cpneai@p-ol.com; www.cpnpeecp.org.

Beit Sahour

Southeast of Bethlehem, Beit Sahour was once a small village of farmers and stone masons. Today it has a population of approximately 12,000. The majority of its inhabitants are middle-class and proud to live in a city that has the highest percentage of university-educated people in Palestine and, in fact, in the entire Arab world.

Beit Sahour has the largest Christian population in the West Bank and Gaza Strip: 75% of the residents here are Christian. Many of them have returned to Beit Sahour after education and work experiences abroad, which is not the case in other Palestinian towns with a high percentage of Christian inhabitants. During the first Intifada, the city made a reputation for itself by the creative methods it used to resist Israeli occupation. The inhabitants refused to pay taxes imposed by the occupiers and went on to organize demonstrations, using the slogan (which remains in use): “No taxation without representation – No taxes without a government.” In retaliation, the Israeli army made large-scale arrests, confiscated many goods and imposed a 45-day curfew.

Beit Sahour’s recently renovated city centre is a beautiful example of traditional village architecture. The twinned windows, topped by relieving vaults, are typical of the region. Larger than a village, but not quite a city, Beit Sahour is a pleasant place for a stay and the proximity to Bethlehem is an added advantage.

Sites of Interest

The Shepherds’ Field

This is the field, north of Beit Sahour, where, according to tradition, the angel appeared to shepherds to announce his birth (Luke 2:8-14).

Contacts

Alternative Information Centre (AIC):

Near the Beit Sahour bus station (in the Jadal Centre);02-277 5444, www.alternativenews.org; there is another AIC office in West Jerusalem, 4 Shlomzion HaMalka Street 02-624 1159). Conferences, lectures and organised tours (cost to be agreed by the parties)

74, Star Street, near the Lutheran School 02-277 2151, fax 02-277 2211, info@atg.ps and www.atg.ps.

Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC):

Beit Sahour Medical Centre, Dr. Majed Nassar, 02-277 4444, bsmc@p-ol.com

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)

02-277 2713 www.shepherdsfieldymca.org: camping by reservation

Jadal Centre for Culture and Development

Near the bus station in Beit Sahour. 02-277 4722.bsmc@p-ol.com Foreigners are welcome to attend talksand debates here.

The Palestinian Centre for Rapprochement between People

fax 02-277 2018; www.rapprochement.org

Other Sites in the Bethlehem Area

The Monastery of Saint Theodosius (Deir Ibn Ubeid)

Wadi Nar Road, 1 kilometre from the village of Ubeidiya, 02-276 6360.

Mar Saba 

20 kilometres east of Bethlehem. From Bethlehem, a taxi ride costs between $20 to $25, which includes a visit to the monastery of St. Theodosius and Mar Saba. Open Sunday- Thursday 8:00-16:00; men only, suitable clothing, no entrance fee.

Women are not allowed entry but may wait in the Women’s Tower at the entrance to the monastery or, evenbetter, on the opposite slope, which commands a magnificent view of Mar Saba.

Herodion or Herodium (Jabal al-Furdeis)

From Bethlehem (Bab al-Deir), a service taxi (NIS 2.5) will take you to Za’tara, the nearest village. Ask the driver to leave you at the foot of the Herodion (off the usual route).A private taxi should cost NIS 50 at the most, including any wait. Open every day 8:00 - 17:30, NIS 23 entrance fee.

The site, in Area C, is under the jurisdiction of the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.

Wadi Khreitoun

Located less than two kilometres SE of Herodion. A torch or flashlight is essential.