Az-Zawiya

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=az-Zawiya


imgsize=250
caption=
arname=الزاويه
meaning=
founded=
type=munc
typefrom=1996
altOffSp=az-Zawia
altUnoSp=al-Zawiya
governorate=sl
latd=32|latm=05|lats=45.82|latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=02|longs=24.83|longEW=E
population=5,100
popyear=2006
area=2,700
areakm=2.7
mayor=Taleb Raddad [ [http://www.nablus.org/en/htm/guide/Municipalities.htm Municipalities] Nablus Municipality]

az-Zawiya ( _ar. الزاويه) is a Palestinian town in the Salfit Governorate in the northern West Bank, located 15 kilometers west of Salfit and 24 kilometers south of Qalqilya. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, az-Zawiya had a population of approximately 5,100 inhabitants in mid-year 2006. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop05.aspx Projected Mid -Year Population for Salfit District by Locality 2004- 2006] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.] The town's population is made up of primarily three families: Shuqeir (45%), Muqadi (30%) and Raddad (20%), while the remaining 5% consists of Palestinian refugee families such as, Shamlawi, Rabi and Yusif. [http://www.poica.org/editor/case_studies/view.php?recordID=423 Location and population] Land Research Center.]

az-Zawiya contains an ancient monastery called Deir Qassis and some Roman ruins. Agriculture is the town's main economic sector with olives, figs, almonds, lentils and wheat being the primary crops. There is over 2,700 dunams of land making up az-Zawiya's jurisdiction, of which 900 is built-up area. Sheep is main livestock grazed in az-Zawiya. There is also small industry such as sewing, carpentry and metal-working and there are over 120 shops in the town. The Second Intifada has drastically decreased revenue from agricultural exports to Israel and Jordan, slashing prices in half. [http://www.iwps.info/en/articles/article.php?id=753 Az Zawiya Village Profile] International Women's Peace Service. 2004-05-02.]

az-Zawiya is governed by a municipal council whose members are elected every four years. The town has been a municipality since 1996. Mayor Taleb Raddad (Abu al-Adeeb) has been elected mayor every elections, serving for three terms. az-Zawiya has two medical clinics, two boys' schools and two girls' schools. az-Zawiya will be surrounded on 4 sides with the completion of the separation barrier forming the az-Zawiya enclave. [ [http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/BarrierRouteProjections_July_2008.pdf Barrier Route] ]

References