About Birzeit
Birzeit facts
Birzeit is located in Palestine (previously known as the West Bank) about 5 miles north of Ramallah and 10 miles northwest of Jerusalem.
According to the 2016 census, the town had about 6,000 inhabitants, about two-thirds of which were Christian, and one-third Muslim.
The predominant Christian churches in town are Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Episcopal.
It’s primary industries are agriculture and education. The name in Arabic literally means “well of oil” in a nod to the olive tree, which is native to the area. The education sector is dominated by Birzeit University and the associated support services, e.g. restaurants, hospitality, internet cafes.
Although there are many beautiful homes in the area, one prominent home is the Nasir family residence. This is where Hana Nasir, the one-time president of Birzeit, lived. Hana Nasir was allowed to return to his family home after the Oslo accords were signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993.
Birzeit University
Birzeit university has about 13,000 students and staff. It is considered one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the Arab world.
Birzeit University offers a comprehensive range of over 170 academic programs, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees, along with diplomas and minor specializations across eight faculties. The university focuses on fields like engineering, IT, sciences, business, law, health, and arts
Language instruction is in Arabic and English, preparing students to work in the global economy.
How to get there
Non-Palestinians can reach Birzeit through Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. It is about 30 Israeli shekels with a shared transport to Jerusalem.
(Option 2). American citizens with Palestinian identity cards or passports who want to go to Birzeit must cross between Jordan and Israel at the Allenby bridge.
The crossing may take up to 12 hours due to intense security screening.
Where to stay
