Al-Zaitounah

This article is about Palestinian town in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate. For other uses, see Mazraa (disambiguation).

Al-Zaitounah (Arabic: الزيتونة, meaning "the Olive") is a Palestinian town in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate of the State of Palestine. It was formed in 2005 as the result of a merger of the villages of Abu Shukheidim and al-Mazra'a al-Qibliya. In 2007, al-Zaitounah had a population of 6,190, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.^[1]

al-Zaitounah
Municipality type C
Arabic transcription(s)
• Arabic	الزيتونة
• Latin	al-Zaytouneh[1] (official)
al-Zaitounah
al-Zaitounah Location of al-Zaitounah within Palestine
Coordinates: 31°57′24″N 35°9′55″E
Palestine grid	166/152, 164/151
State	State of Palestine
Governorate	Ramallah and al-Bireh
Founded	2005
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Head of Municipality	Abdullah Ladadwa
Area
• Total	15,500 dunams (15.5 km2 or 6.0 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	579 m (1,900 ft)
Population  (2013)
• Total	8,105
• Density	520/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Name meaning	"the Olive"
Website	www.alzeitona-mun.org

Location

AL-Zaytouneh is located 7.76 kilometers (4.82 mi) from Ramallah. It is bordered by Bir Zeit and Abu Qash to the east, Kobar and the settlement of Nahliel to the north, Al-Itihad and Al Janiya to the west, and 'Ein Qiniya, Ramallah and Al Janiya to the south.^[2]

History

See also: Abu Shukheidim and al-Mazra'a al-Qibliya

Al-Zaitounah was formed in 2005 as the result of a merger of the villages of Abu Shukheidim and al-Mazra'a al-Qibliya.

After the Oslo II Accord, 54.2% of Al-Zaitounah's land was classified as Area B land, while the remaining 45.8% is defined as Area C. Israel has confiscated 308 dunams of land from Al-Zaitounah for the construction of 2 Israeli settlements: 289 dunams for Talmon, while 19 dunams for Nahl'iel.^[3]