Sinjil

Infobox Palestinian Authority muni
name=Sinjil


imgsize=250
caption=
arname=بيتونيا
meaning=
founded=
type=munc
typefrom=
altOffSp=Senjel
altUnoSp=Sanjil
governorate=rb
latd=32|latm=01|lats=59.32|latNS=N
longd=35 |longm=15|longs=51.57|longEW=E
population=5,600
popyear=2006
area=
areakm=
mayor=Imad al-Din Masalmeh

Sinjil ( _ar. بيتونيا ) is a Palestinian town located 21 kilometers northeast of Ramallah in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the central West Bank. The village is surrounded by the village of Turmus Ayya and the Israeli settlement of Shilo.

According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the town had a population of approximately 5,600 in mid-year 2006. [ [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]

The French Count Raymond VI of Toulouse built a castle in Sinjil to protect the passage of passing caravans. [http://www.thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=818&ed=74&edid=74 The village of Sinjel] This Week In Palestine] The modern town receives its name from the Crusader town of St. Gilles. [ [http://jacobk9.tripod.com/id39.html Sinjil (Saint Gilles)] ] Other historical sites in the town include a well for Joseph and a holy site for Jacob. The shrine of a holy man, Abu Ouf, is also located there. Abu Ouf is from the time period of the Caliph Umar Ibn al-Khattab.

During Ottoman rule in the early 19th century, Sinjil was a village of 206 taxable men, roughly 800 people. One-eight of the population were conscripted into the Ottoman army, but were still taxed for 800 people. [Robinson, Edward. (1841) " [http://books.google.com/books?id=-9gUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA83&dq=Sinjil&lr=#PPA84,M1 Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea] ". Crocker & Brewster, pp.83-84.]

References