Beit Jala
Beit Jala | |
|---|---|
| Arabic transcription(s) | |
| • Arabic | بيت جالا |
| • Latin | Bayt Jala (unofficial) |
| Hebrew transcription(s) | |
| • Hebrew | בית ג'אלא |
Beit Jala, with Saint Nicholas Church. | |
Location of Beit Jala within Palestine | |
| Coordinates: 31°42′54″N 35°11′14″E / 31.71500°N 35.18722°E | |
| Palestine grid | 167/124 |
| State | State of Palestine |
| Governorate | Bethlehem |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Head of Municipality | Nicola Khamis |
| Area | |
| 12,911 dunams (13.0 km2 or 5.0 sq mi) | |
| Population (2017) | |
| 13,484 | |
| • Density | 1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 97,559 |
| Name meaning | House of Jala |
| Website | www |
Beit Jala (Arabic: ⓘ) 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.