Beit Ummar

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Beit Ummar


imgsize=
caption=
arname=بيت اُمّر
meaning="House of [Caliph] Umar"
founded=
type=munb
typefrom=1997
altOffSp=Bayt Ummar
altUnoSp=Beit Omar
governorate=hb
latd=31|latm=37|lats=16.61|latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=06|longs=08.08|longEW=E
population=12,700
popyear=2006
area=
areakm=
mayor=Farhan Musa Alqam

Beit Ummar ( _ar. بيت اُمّر) is a Palestinian town located eleven kilometers northwest of Hebron in the Hebron Governorate of the southern West Bank. [ [http://www.palestineremembered.com/GeoPoints/Bayt_Ummar_892/index.html Beit Ummar: Town Statistics and Facts] ] According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, in mid-year 2006, the town had a population of approximately 12,700 inhabitants. [ [http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_pcbs/populati/pop11.aspx Projected Mid -Year Population for Hebron Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006] Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics] Over 4,800 residents of the town are under the age of 18. Since the Second Intifada, unemployment ranges between 60 to 80 percent due mostly to the inability of residents to work in Israel and a depression in the Palestinian economy. [ [http://www.pcr.ps/pmalert/beitomar.htm Beit Omar Background] ] A part of the city straddles Road 60 and due to this, several propositions of house demolition have occurred. [http://www.cpt.org/csd/csdbubackground.php Sample Area Background: Beit Ummar] (2000) Campaign for Secure Dwellings, Christian Peacemaker Teams]

Beit Ummar is mostly agricultural and is noted for its many grape vines. This has a major aspect on their culinary tradition of stuffed grape leaves known as "waraq al-'inib" and a grape syrup called "dibs". Beit Ummar also has hundreds of cherry, plum, apple and olive orchards. [http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=2296&ed=147&edid=147 Beit Ummar: Where Dreams Come True Aging with Dignity in Palestinian Villages] Qleibo, Ali. "This Week in Palestine".]

History

Beit Ummar is believed to be the site of Biblical village of Maarath. [Armstrong (1189) p.119] The modern town was named after the Islamic Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab who supposedly frequented the town. Many of the town's residents are descendants of Arab Christian families and the old city contains Christian ruins.

The town became a municipality on April 17, 1997 after the dismantlement of the Israeli village council and Hussein Badr was appointed by the Palestinian National Authority. The current mayor is Farhan Musa Alqam who succeeded Rashid Awad. [ [http://www.nablus.org/en/htm/guide/Municipalities.htm Municipality Guide] Nablus Municipality Official Website] The town is currently located in Areas B (civil affairs administered by the PNA) and C (civil and military affairs controlled by Israel).

References

Bibliography

*Citation |title=Names and Places in the Old and New Testament and Apocrypha |first=George |last=Armstrong |year=1889 |publisher=Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund