Nahalin
Nahalin is a large village set in a beautiful area of rolling pine forests, southwest of Bethlehem. The word ‘nahaleen’ is Arabic for those who collect honey from bees, and this is what the village has traditionally been famous for. In fact, many beehives are still in use in Nahalin today. The village has a strong agricultural focus in general, with almond and olive trees, grapevines and parsley fields all a common occurrence.
While the centre is a relatively bustling place, with small shops lining the central street into the heart of the built-up area. However, its location inside the illegal Gush Etzion settlement bloc means Nahalin is totally surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements. Much land has been lost to the settlers, depriving many of the village’s farmers of their livelihood.
Population: 6,827 (2007)