Al-Lubban al-Gharbi
Encyclopedia
Al-Lubban al-Gharbi is a Palestinian
village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
, located 21 kilometers northwest of Ramallah
in the northern West Bank
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
, the village had a population of 1,476 inhabitants in 2007.
Al-Lubban al-Gharbi has a total land area of 9,694 dunam
s, of which 335 are built-up area. Most of the remaining land is either grown with olive and almond orchards or open for continued expansion of the village. However, the Israeli West Bank barrier
will separate 59% of Lubban al-Gharbi's land from the village's urban area. The village's infrastructure facilities include an elementary school a kindergarten, and two clinics.
as Beit Laban. There are remains of ancient buildings, the stones of which have been reused in some the village's inhabited houses. In the courtyard of the village mosque are the bases of five columns that may have formed part of a chapel. Also in the village are cistern
s carved into the rock, and on the slopes of a neighboring hill to the southwest, there are tombs and grottos carved into the rock.
Under the name Lubban al-Kafr, the village appeared in 1596 Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Jabal Qubal of the Liwa
of Nablus. It had a population of 29 Muslim households. It paid taxes on wheat, barley, summercrops, olives, and goats or beehives.
At the time of the 1931 census
, with the name Al-Lubban or Lubban Rantis, the village had 60 occupied houses and a population of 298 Muslims.
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate
The Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate is one of 16 Governorates of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It covers a large part of the central West Bank, on the northern border of the Jerusalem Governorate. Its district capital or muhfaza is the city of al-Bireh.According to the Palestinian Central...
, located 21 kilometers northwest of Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
in the northern West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics is the statistical organization under the umbrella of the Palestinian Cabinet of the Palestinian National Authority....
, the village had a population of 1,476 inhabitants in 2007.
Al-Lubban al-Gharbi has a total land area of 9,694 dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s, of which 335 are built-up area. Most of the remaining land is either grown with olive and almond orchards or open for continued expansion of the village. However, the Israeli West Bank barrier
Israeli West Bank barrier
The Israeli West Bank barrier is a separation barrier being constructed by the State of Israel along and within the West Bank. Upon completion, the barrier’s total length will be approximately...
will separate 59% of Lubban al-Gharbi's land from the village's urban area. The village's infrastructure facilities include an elementary school a kindergarten, and two clinics.
History
The village on the slopes of a hill at at an ancient site, and is mentioned in the TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
as Beit Laban. There are remains of ancient buildings, the stones of which have been reused in some the village's inhabited houses. In the courtyard of the village mosque are the bases of five columns that may have formed part of a chapel. Also in the village are cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
s carved into the rock, and on the slopes of a neighboring hill to the southwest, there are tombs and grottos carved into the rock.
Under the name Lubban al-Kafr, the village appeared in 1596 Ottoman tax registers as being in the Nahiya of Jabal Qubal of the Liwa
Liwa (arabic)
Liwa or Liwa is an Arabic term meaning district, banner, or flag, a type of administrative division. It was interchangeable with the Turkish term "Sanjak" in the time of the Ottoman Empire. After the fall of the empire, the term was used in the Arab countries formerly under Ottoman rule...
of Nablus. It had a population of 29 Muslim households. It paid taxes on wheat, barley, summercrops, olives, and goats or beehives.
At the time of the 1931 census
1931 census of Palestine
The 1931 census of Palestine was the second census carried out by the authorities of the British Mandate of Palestine. It was carried out on 18 November 1931 under the direction of Major E. Mills. The first census had been conducted in 1922...
, with the name Al-Lubban or Lubban Rantis, the village had 60 occupied houses and a population of 298 Muslims.