Beita

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Beita


imgsize=250
caption=
arname=بيتا
meaning=Home
founded=
type=munb
typefrom=1996
altOffSp=
altUnoSp=
governorate=nb
latd=32|latm=08|lats=36.78|latNS=N
longd=35|longm=17|longs=14.50|longEW=E
population=8,800
popyear=2006
area=76,000
areakm=76.0
mayor=Arab ash-Shurafa

Beita ( _ar. بيتا, translit. "Home") is a Palestinian town in the Nablus Governorate in the northern West Bank located 13km southeast of Nablus. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of 8,800 in mid-year 2006. It consists of five clans which branch out to thirty families. There are many houses and prisons dating back to the Roman era. [http://www.beita.info/eng/pages/e_beita.html Beita Municipality: Beita Town] ] The current mayor that was elected in 2004 is Arab ash-Shurafa. [ [http://www.beita.info/eng/pages/e_muni2.html Beita Municipality: Municipality] ]

In 1952, Beita opened an elementary school (before, most teaching was done in mosques), which served the town and surrounding villages. In 1954, an elementary school for girls only was established and since then, four other schools have been built - including two secondary schools. [ [http://www.beita.info/eng/pages/e_edu.html Beita Municipality: Education] Beita Municipality.] The town contains four mosques and three clinics. [ [http://www.beita.info/eng/pages/e_found.html Beita Municipality: Public Foundations] Beita Municipality.]

The town was considered a Fatah stronghold, [http://books.google.com/books?id=KYPVNdzXUJkC&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=beita&source=web&ots=AjFPrnvGNC&sig=gvq2_OsXxPU6fC5J4GEdbO4D1y4 Intifada: The Palestinian Uprising Against Israeli Occupation] Lockman, Zachary. Joel Beinin. pp.81] however Arab ash-Shurafa, a member of Hamas was elected mayor in 2005. Shurafa was arrested by the Israeli Defense Forces, along with Nablus mayor Adly Yaish and Education Minister of the Palestinian National Authority Nasser al-Shaer in 2006 for their membership with Hamas.

Beita was the one of the first to participate in the First Intifada uprising and a confrontation with Israeli settlers occurred on June 6, 1988. Arab stone throwers attacked a rifle-toting settler who in defense killed two residents Munira Da'ud and Musa Salih as well as another Israeli settler, Tirza Porat. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DB123CF934A25757C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print In Separate Gestures, a Mosaic of Intentions] Friedman, Thomas L. "New York Times" 1988-04-17] The Israeli Defense Forces responded by demolishing thirteen houses and in clashes they killed three residents.

References