Kobar

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Kobar


imgsize=250
caption=
arname=كوبر
meaning=
founded=
type=mund
typefrom=
altOffSp=Kaubar
altUnoSp=
governorate=rb
latd=31|latm=59|lats=20.06|latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=09|longs=32.74|longEW=E
population=3,670
popyear=2006
area=9,700
areakm=9.7
mayor=Abdul Karim Hasan Dar Yousif

Kobar ( _ar. كوبر) is a Palestinian village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the northern West Bank, located 13 kilometers northwest of Ramallah. The village is situated on a hill at an altitude of 640 meters above sea level and is along Highway 37. Its built-up area consists of about 1,300 dunams and a total area of approximately 9,700 dunams. In 1922, the population of the village was about 447 people, which rose 610 in 1945. According to Kobar's Village Council, it had a population of 4,500 residents in 2006, [http://www.kobar.org.ps/eabout1.htm Kobar Village History] Kobar Village Council.] however, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics give the figure 3,670. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop07.aspx Projected Mid -Year Population for Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.]

Kobar contains two secondary schools (one male and one female) and a co-ed primary school. Each school has roughly 500 students. The estimated number of university students about 200 studying in Bir Zeit University or elsewhere. There are three mosques: Masjid ash-Shuhada was built in 2005, Masjid Kobar al-Qadima and Masjid Abu Bakr al-Sadiq. Kobar has a sports and culture club which was established in 1973 and women and children's club since 2001. The village is governed by a village council of eleven members including the chairman of the council. [ [http://www.kobar.org.ps/eabout2.htm Village Council Members] Kobar Village Council.] The Barghouti clan is the largest in the town and make-up about a third of the council. Marwan Barghouti was born in Kobar. [ [http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/Kaubar_1284/Article_2700.html Families of Kaubar] Barghouthi, Mohammad.]

Kobar gained considerable media attention when on February 22, 2008 the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) tortured a pro-Hamas imam, Majid Barghouti to death. The PNA claimed he died of a heart attack, but the Human Rights Watch and Barghouti's family claim he died from being tortured. [ [http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2008/04/04/isrlpa18425.htm Palestinian Authority: Punish Imam’s Death in Custody] Human Rights Watch. 2008-04-04.]

References