Al-Bikai'a

al-Bikai'a
Village Cluster
Arabic transcription(s)
 • Arabicالبقيعة
 • Latinal-Buqei'a (official)
al-Bikai'a is located in State of Palestine
al-Bikai'a
al-Bikai'a
Location of al-Bikai'a within Palestine
Coordinates: 32°15′53.38″N 35°26′12.98″E / 32.2648278°N 35.4369389°E / 32.2648278; 35.4369389
State State of Palestine
GovernorateTubas
Founded1500 BCE
Government
 • TypeVillage Cluster (from 1996)
Area
 • Total29,250 dunams (29.5 km2 or 11.4 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)
 • Total1,850
 • Density63/km2 (160/sq mi)

Al-Bikai'a also spelled al-Buqei'a (Arabic: البقيعة) is a Palestinian village cluster in the Tubas Governorate of the State of Palestine, that includes the three hamlets of Khirbet al-'Atuf, al-Hadidiyah, and Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa. The area spans 29,250 dunams, most of which is covered by Khirbet al-'Atuf. It is situated on a flat plain surrounded by mountains and with an altitude of 50 meters above sea level. The total population of al-Bikai'a was 227 in 1997 and 1,850 in 2005.[1] According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, al-Hadidya had a population of 183 inhabitants.[2]

The Abu Bakr as-Sadiq Mosque is the only mosque in al-Bikai'a and is located in Khirbet al-'Atuf. There is one school, and one kindergarten. Most residents go to nearby Tammun for education. About 72.3% of the inhabitants are literate with women comprising nearly two-thirds of the literate population. Agriculture constitutes 95% of the labor force while the remaining 5% work in Israeli construction.[1]