Ramallah

Ramallah is a city in the central West Bank, Palestine. It is the main city for the area and the capital of the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate. The city is in the Judaean Mountains, about 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem.

The modern city of Ramallah started in the 16th century by an Arab Christian group. Over time, it was ruled by different groups, including the Ottoman Empire, British Mandatory Palestine, Transjordan, and Israel. Today, since the 1995 Oslo Accords, it is led by the Palestinian Authority.

Ramallah is now an important place for politics, culture, and business. It has many government offices, museums, and cultural spots. While it used to have mostly Christian people, today most follow Muslim traditions, but Christians still live there too.

History

Early history

Ramallah was founded in the 1500s by the Hadadeens, an Arab Christian group. The city has old remains from earlier times. Ancient rock-cut tombs have been found near Ramallah. There is an archaeological site just south of the city where Mizpah in Benjamin might have been located.

Some buildings in Ramallah have stones from the time of Herod the Great (37–4 BCE). Pieces of pottery from the Crusader, Ayyubid, and early Ottoman periods have also been found there. Ramallah may have been the Crusader place called Ramalie. Remains of a building with an arched doorway from the Crusader era, called al-Burj, have been found, but its original use is unknown.

Ottoman period

The area of Ramallah became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine. Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-1500s by the Haddadins, a group of brothers from Ghassanid Christians. They came from east of the Jordan River from areas such as Karak and Shoubak. The Haddadins were led by Rashid el-Haddadin, who was attracted to Ramallah’s mountainous site and its forested area for fuel.

In 1596, Ramallah was listed in tax records as part of the nahiya of Quds (Jerusalem), within the Liwa of Quds. It had 71 Christian households and 9 Muslim households. They paid taxes on crops and animals. All the tax money went to a waqf.

In 1838, American scholar Edward Robinson visited and noted the people were Christian of the Greek rite. There were about 800–900 people. The village belonged to Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, to which it paid an annual tax. In 1883, the PEF’s Survey of Western Palestine described Ramallah as a large Christian village with stone houses on a high ridge, surrounded by gardens and olive-yards, with several springs nearby. The village had a Greek church, a Latin convent, and a Protestant schoolhouse. About a quarter of the people were Roman Catholics, the rest Orthodox Greeks.

British Mandate

During World War I, the British Army captured Ramallah in December 1917. The city stayed under British control until 1920, when the Palestine Mandate began. During the 1920s, Ramallah’s economy improved, and local upper-class families built many large villas, many of which are still standing today. In 1939, electricity came to Ramallah, and most homes were connected soon after. That same year, the British started the Palestine Broadcasting Service in Ramallah, with help from the BBC to train local radio staff for daily broadcasts in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. The station was later renamed Jerusalem Calling.

The city became a center of activity when the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine began. Rebels set up a court near Ramallah to provide an alternative to the British Mandate courts.

Jordanian and Israeli occupation

After the creation of the State of Israel and the conflict that followed, Jordan took control of part of the territory, named the West Bank, which included Ramallah. Jordan annexed the West Bank and applied its laws there. The West Bank was peaceful during Jordanian control from 1948 to 1967, with people free to move between the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. However, many Palestinians were arrested for being members of illegal political groups, such as the Palestine Communist Party and other socialist or pro-independence groups. The city’s population doubled by 1953, but the economy and infrastructure couldn’t handle the increase. Many people from Ramallah moved away, mainly to the United States. By 1956, about a quarter of Ramallah’s 6,000 people had left, and people from surrounding towns, especially Hebron, bought their homes and land.

During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel captured Ramallah from Jordan. Israel imposed military control and did a census a few weeks later. Everyone registered could stay, but those abroad lost their rights. For the first time in 19 years, Ramallah residents could visit the Gaza Strip and Israel and trade with them.

Israel did not give citizenship to Ramallah residents. They were given permits to work in Israel but did not have the rights of Israeli citizens. The city stayed under Israeli military rule for over four decades. The Israeli Civil Administration, set up in 1981, handled everyday services like travel permits, building permissions, and taxes. The Administration also took care of tax collection and land seizures, sometimes taking olive groves that Arab families had cared for for generations.

Israeli settlements such as Beit El and Psagot grew around Ramallah, limiting the city’s expansion and separating it from nearby villages. As resistance grew, members of the Palestine Liberation Organization from Ramallah were jailed or sent away. The First Intifada began in December 1987, with protests against Israeli control. The Israeli army responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Schools were closed, and curfews limited travel. In response, people organized home schooling. After the Oslo Accords, the Israeli army left the Mukataa in December 1995, and the Palestinian Authority took over civilian and security duties in the city, which was designated “Area A.”

Palestinian Authority control

From 1993 to 2000, known as the “Oslo Years,” Ramallah saw relative prosperity. Many people returned to start businesses, and there was a feeling of hope. In 2000, unemployment rose and the economy weakened. The Israel Defense Forces kept control of the area, and the government did not restore freedom of movement for Ramallah residents before the first Intifada. Travel to Jerusalem needed special permits. The number and size of Israeli settlements around Ramallah increased a lot. Israel built roads only for Israeli citizens around Ramallah and took land for settlements. Many official documents that used to be handled by the Israeli Civil Administration were now handled by the Palestinian Authority but still needed Israeli approval. A Palestinian passport for Ramallah residents was not valid unless the number was registered with Israeli authorities, who controlled border crossings.

The failure of the Camp David summit in July 2000 led to the start of the Second Intifada in September 2000. Young people in Ramallah protested daily against the Israeli army, with marches to Israeli checkpoints. Over time, these turned into attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers, especially on roads only for Israelis. Checkpoints were set up to limit movement in and out of Ramallah. On October 12, 2000, two Israeli army reservists were killed in Ramallah by an angry crowd. Later that day, the Israeli army attacked Ramallah, destroying a police station. Israel later captured and tried some of those involved.

The Israeli army sometimes entered Ramallah, breaking the 1995 Oslo Accords. The biggest operation was Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, with a more recent operation in March 2017 to arrest a suspected attacker. In 2002, Israel imposed curfews, cut electricity, closed schools, and disrupted business. Many government buildings and equipment were damaged or stolen. The Israeli army took over local TV stations, and conditions got worse. Many people left because life became very hard. Construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier added to Ramallah’s isolation. Yasser Arafat set up his West Bank headquarters, the Mukataa, in Ramallah. Even though it was meant to be temporary, Ramallah became the de facto capital of the Palestinian Authority, now known as the State of Palestine. It holds almost all government offices. In December 2001, Arafat met at the Mukataa but lived in Gaza City with his family. After attacks in Haifa, Arafat was confined to the Ramallah compound. In 2002, part of the compound was destroyed by Israeli forces, and Arafat’s building was separated from the rest. Arafat died in November 2004 at a hospital near Paris and was buried in the Mukataa courtyard on November 12, 2004. The site is still the Ramallah headquarters of the Palestinian Authority and the main West Bank office of Mahmoud Abbas.

In December 2005, local elections were held in Ramallah. Candidates from three groups competed for four years on the fifteen-seat municipal council. The council chose Janet Mikhail as mayor, the first woman to hold the job.

Munir Hamdan, a member of Fatah and a businessman from Ramallah, talked to a journalist about the many government offices in the city. He said the president, prime minister, parliament, and all government ministries were there, which showed a “collusion” between the Palestinian Authority and Israel to make Ramallah the political and financial capital of the Palestinians. He worried about a new large government building being built by the PA. Hatem Abdel Kader, a Jerusalem resident, Fatah legislator, and former Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, complained that building a new government building in Ramallah meant they had no plans to be based in Jerusalem. In November 2011, King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Ramallah for the first time since 2000.

Geography and climate

Ramallah has a Mediterranean climate. This means it has dry summers and mild, rainy winters. Sometimes it even snows a little. The city gets about 615 mm (24 in) of rain each year, but this can vary.

This type of climate is found on the western sides of continents between 30° and 45° latitude. In winter, the weather can change a lot and be rainy. Summers are usually hot and dry because of high pressure systems, except near coasts where ocean currents can make summers milder.

Economy

Ramallah is an important place for money and business for the Palestinian Authority. Many banks and offices are there. International groups and embassies are also in Ramallah.

Since a big conflict called the Second Intifada ended, money from other countries has helped the city's economy grow. People from towns in the West Bank move to Ramallah for jobs. The city has grown a lot since 2002.

Building has increased, showing growth in the West Bank. Big projects are starting, like a large shopping area with tall buildings. Ramallah has many technology companies and works with countries like India. Big international companies have offices there too. By 2010, Ramallah became a key place for economic and political activities. During this time, new homes and nice hotels were built. Many businesses moved from East Jerusalem to Ramallah because of lower taxes and more customers. Some people think Ramallah is becoming the main city of Palestine.

Demographics

In the late 1800s, Ramallah was a small village with around 635 men. By the 1940s, the population grew to over 5,000 people, most of whom were Christians.

The population of Ramallah changed over time. Many Christians moved away during a difficult period, so by 1967, Muslims became the larger group. Today, Ramallah has a mix of Christian and Muslim families.

Many people from Ramallah moved to the United States, especially to cities like Washington, New York, Florida, California, Texas, and Michigan. They built strong communities there and kept traditions from their hometown alive.

By the late 1990s, Ramallah's population dropped to about 17,800 people. But it grew again, reaching over 27,000 by 2007. Today, about a quarter of the city's people are Christians.

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1896	2,061	—
1922	3,104	+50.6%
1931	4,286	+38.1%
1938	4,900	+14.3%
1945	5,080	+3.7%
1961	14,759	+190.5%
1967	12,134	−17.8%
1997	17,851	+47.1%
2007	27,460	+53.8%
2017	38,998	+42.0%
Source:

Health

After a big uprising from 1936 to 1939, a group called the Ramallah Hospital Foundation was created. They registered it in New York in 1944 and bought land on the edge of the city for a future hospital. Finally, in 1963, the hospital opened its doors.

Religion

Ramallah has many places of worship. The Jamal Abdel Nasser Mosque is one of the biggest mosques in the city. There are also several Christian churches, such as the Orthodox Church of Ramallah, the Melkite Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and the Arab Episcopal (Anglican) Church. These churches run schools in the city.

Ramallah has had Christians living there for a long time. In the 1700s, more Christian families moved to the city. The first Greek Orthodox church was built in the early 1800s. Later, more churches were built, including a Melkite Greek Catholic Church and a Roman Catholic Church. The Quakers also started schools in Ramallah in the late 1800s to help everyone, especially girls. Today, Ramallah still has a small Christian community, even though most people in the city are Muslim now.

Culture

Ramallah is a lively and creative city, known for its artists, poets, and musicians. In 2004, the Ramallah Cultural Palace opened. It was the first of its kind in the Palestinian areas. The palace has a large hall for performances, meeting rooms, art spaces, and a cinema. That same year, the city held its first international film festival.

Traditional clothes in Ramallah used to show a woman’s background and status through the fabrics, colors, and embroidery. In the past, travel was hard, so each area developed its own style. In Ramallah, dresses often had palm tree designs stitched on them.

International relations

Many countries have important offices in Ramallah for the Palestinian Authority. These include Argentina, Australia, Austria, South Korea, South Africa, Norway, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, China, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands, Russia, Jordan, Brazil, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, India, Japan, the Czech Republic, Canada, and Mexico.

Twin towns – sister cities

Ramallah has friendly city partnerships with:

Notable people

Ramallah is home to many interesting people from different fields. Some well-known individuals include Paul Ajlouny, a Palestinian-American publisher and businessman, and Hamze Awawde, a Palestinian peace activist. Others include Mahmoud Eid, a professional footballer, and Yasmeen Mjalli, an American and Palestinian fashion designer and photographer. The city has also been home to Jibril Rajoub, a Palestinian political leader, and Mosab Hassan Yousef, a former militant who later left that path.