Bethlehem Governorate
Encyclopedia
The Bethlehem Governorate ( ) is one of 16 Governorates of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
within the Palestinian Territories
. It covers an area of the West Bank
, south of Jerusalem. Its principal city and district capital is Bethlehem
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
, its population was 180,116 in mid-year 2006.
.
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
and The Alternative
both had their best votes there. Its current governor is Salah al-Tamari.
Governorates of the West Bank and Gaza Strip
After the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip were divided into three areas and 16 governorates under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority.-West Bank:...
within the Palestinian Territories
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
. It covers an area of the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
, south of Jerusalem. Its principal city and district capital is Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank of the Jordan River, near Israel and approximately south of Jerusalem, with a population of about 30,000 people. It is the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate of the Palestinian National Authority and a hub of Palestinian culture and tourism...
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is the statistical organization under the umbrella of the Palestinian Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority....
, its population was 180,116 in mid-year 2006.
Geography
According to the Bethlehem Municipality, the city has a total area of 575 km² (222.3 mi²). Of this area, 80 km² (30.8 mi²) in currently under the control of the Palestinian National AuthorityPalestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
.
Politics
Politically, the Bethlehem Governorate is something of a stronghold of the Palestinian left. At the Palestinian legislative election, 2006Palestinian legislative election, 2006
On January 25, 2006, elections were held for the Palestinian Legislative Council , the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority . Notwithstanding the 2005 municipal elections and the January 9, 2005 presidential election, this was the first election to the PLC since 1996; subsequent...
the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
and The Alternative
The Alternative (Palestine)
The Alternative was an electoral alliance of several socialist Palestinian groups:*Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine *Palestinian People's Party...
both had their best votes there. Its current governor is Salah al-Tamari.
Localities
The governorate consists of 10 municipalities, 3 refugee camps, and 58 rural districtsMunicipalities
- BattirBattirBattir is an ancient town located in the West Bank, 5km west of Bethlehem, and south west of Jerusalem. It has a population of about 4,000 inhabitants. Battir sits just above the railway from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which also served as the armistice line between Israel and Jordan from 1948 to 1967...
- Beit FajjarBeit FajjarBeit Fajjar is a Palestinian town located eight kilometers south of Bethlehem in the Bethlehem Governorate, in the central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of over 11,000 in 2007.-History:...
- Beit JalaBeit JalaBeit Jala is an Arab Christian town in the Bethlehem Governorate of the West Bank. Beit Jala is located 10 km south of Jerusalem, on the western side of the Hebron road, opposite Bethlehem, at altitude...
- Beit SahourBeit SahourBeit Sahour is a Palestinian town east of Bethlehem under the administration of the Palestinian National Authority...
- Beit Lahm (Bethlehem)
- al-DawhaAl-DawhaAl-Dawha is a Palestinian area located in Beit Jala City, two kilometers south-west of Bethlehem.This area is in the one from the areas that belongs to Beit Bala, and it's called Al-Dawha according to the Dawha Street in Beit Jala that Bishara Daod made by financing from the Doha State...
- HusanHusanHusan is a Palestinian town located north of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, nine kilometers west of Bethlehem, in the Bethlehem Governorate. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Husan had a population of 5,511 in 2007.-Etymology:...
- al-KhaderAl-Khader, BethlehemAl-Khader is a Palestinian town in the Bethlehem Governorate in the south-central West Bank. It is located west of Bethlehem. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 9,774 in 2007.-History:...
- Nahalin
- Tuqu'Tuqu'Tuquʿ is a Palestinian town in the Bethlehem Governorate, located 12 km southeast of Bethlehem in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics , Tuqu' had a population of 8,881 in 2007.The town is a part of the 'Arab al-Ta'amira cluster, along with Za'atara, Beit...
- al-UbeidiyaAl-UbeidiyaAl-Ubeidiya is a Palestinian town located east of Bethlehem. The town is a part of the Bethlehem Governorate in the central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics , al-Ubeidiya had a population of over 10,753 in 2007....
- Za'ataraZa'ataraZa'atara is a Palestinian town located eleven kilometers southeast of Bethlehem.The town is in the Bethlehem Governorate central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of over 6,289 in 2007....
Local and village councils
- 'Arab al-Rashayida'Arab al-RashayidaArab al-Rashayida is a Palestinian village located twelve kilometers east of Jerusalem.The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate, central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the city had a population of 1,453 in 2007....
- ArtasArtas, BethlehemArtas is a Palestinian village located four kilometers southwest of Bethlehem in the Bethlehem Governorate in the central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 3,663 in 2007.-History:...
- al-AsakraAl-Asakraal-Asakra is a Palestinian village in the Bethlehem Governorate in the south-central West Bank, located 4.5 kilometers southeast of Bethlehem. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of over 1,001 inhabitants in mid-year 2006....
- Beit Ta'mirBeit Ta'mirBeit Ta'mir is a Palestinian village located six kilometers southeast of Bethlehem.The town is in the Bethlehem Governorate central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 1,229 in 2007...
- Dar SalahDar SalahDar Salah is a Palestinian village located six kilometers east of Bethlehem.The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate Southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 3,373 in 2007....
- HindazaHindazaHindaza is a Palestinian village located six kilometers south-east of Bethlehem. The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate Southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 4,779 in 2007...
- al 'Iqab
- JuhdumJuhdumJuhdum is a Palestinian village located eight kilometers east of Bethlehem.The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate Southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 1,391 in mid-year 2006....
- Jurat ash Sham'aJurat ash Sham'aJurat ash-Sham'a is a Palestinian village located ten kilometers south of Bethlehem. The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate in the southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 1,491 in 2007...
- Khirbet al-DeirKhirbet al-DeirKhirbet al-Deir is a Palestinian town located ten kilometers south of Bethlehem.The town is in the Bethlehem Governorate central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of over 1,564 in mid-year 2006....
- Marah RabahMarah RabahMarah Rabah is a Palestinian village located twelve kilometers south of Bethlehem. The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of over 1,320 in 2007...
- RakhmeRakhmeRakhme is a Palestinian village located three kilometers south-east of Bethlehem.The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate Southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 997 in mid-year 2006....
- Umm SalamunaUmm SalamunaUmm Salamuna is a Palestinian village located twelve kilometers South-west of Bethlehem. The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate in the southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 945 in 2007...
- ash ShawawraAsh Shawawraash Shawawra is a Palestinian village located twelve kilometers southeast of Bethlehem. The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of over 3,737 in 2007...
- Wadi al-ArayisWadi al-ArayisWadi al-Arayis is a Palestinian village located ten kilometers east of Bethlehem.The village is in the Bethlehem Governorate Southern West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of 2,169 in mid-year 2006. The primary healthcare is obtained in...
- Wadi FukinWadi FukinWadi Fukin is a Palestinian village in the West Bank, eight kilometers southwest of Bethlehem in the Bethlehem Governorate. The village is located between the Green Line and the Israeli West Bank barrier. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Wadi Fukin had a population of...
- al-WalajaAl-Walaja-Bibliography:*Conder, Claude Reignier and H.H. Kitchener : . London:Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund. vol 3 p. 206-207-External links:******, from the Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center*...