Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa
Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa is the smaller of the two Beit ‘Ur villages, which crown adjacent hilltops. The village, 14km east of Ramallah, is a charming, peaceful place whose tranquillity is interrupted by the main Israeli highway that runs through the valley.
The immaculate cemetery boasts great views from its hilltop location, while the many of the residents live in quaint, stone houses. However, life has been made difficult for them by the construction of the Israeli separation barrier on three sides, and the road to Tel Aviv, which Palestinians are not allowed to use.
Highway 433’s construction was challenged by a petition submitted to the Supreme Court of Israel, which rejected it. The road initially connected the Beit ‘Ur villages to Ramallah, but after the second intifada Palestinians were blocked from using it, and the construction of the separation barrier closed off access to the old road. Children in Beit ‘Ur al-Foqa have been forced to use sewage tunnels to attend school in the neighbouring village.
Population: 864 (2007)
