Beit Jala

Beit Jala
Arabic transcription(s)
 • Arabicبيت جالا
 • LatinBayt Jala (unofficial)
Hebrew transcription(s)
 • Hebrewבית ג'אלא
Beit Jala, with Saint Nicholas Church.
Beit Jala, with Saint Nicholas Church.
Official logo of Beit Jala
Beit Jala is located in State of Palestine
Beit Jala
Beit Jala
Location of Beit Jala within Palestine
Coordinates: 31°42′54″N 35°11′14″E / 31.71500°N 35.18722°E / 31.71500; 35.18722
Palestine grid167/124
StateState of Palestine
GovernorateBethlehem
Government
 • TypeMunicipality
 • Head of MunicipalityNicola Khamis [1]
Area
 • Municipality type B12,911 dunams (13.0 km2 or 5.0 sq mi)
Population
 (2017)[2]
 • Municipality type B13,484
 • Density1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
 • Metro
97,559
Name meaningHouse of Jala[3]
Websitewww.beitjala-city.org/en/

Beit Jala (Arabic: بيت جالا) is a Palestinian Christian town in the Bethlehem Governorate of Palestine, in the West Bank. Beit Jala is located 10 km (6.2 mi)10 km south of Jerusalem, on the western side of the Hebron road, opposite Bethlehem, at 825 meters (2,707 ft) altitude. In 2017, Beit Jala had 13,484 inhabitants according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. About 80% of the population were Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic) and about 20% Muslims.

Saint Nicholas – the inspiration for Santa Claus – is the patron saint of Beit Jala, where the Church of Saint Nicholas was built over a crypt where it is believed he lived for a couple years during his time in Palestine.

  1. ^ West Bank Archived 2007-06-30 at the Wayback Machine Local Elections ( Round two) - Successful candidates by local authority, gender and No. of votes obtained Beit Jala p 24
  2. ^ 2017 PCBS Census Archived 2010-12-10 at the Wayback Machine Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. p.118.
  3. ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 286