'Atara
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| 'Atara | |
| Arabic | عطارة |
| Government | Village Council |
| Also Spelled | Atara (officially) |
| Governorate | Ramallah & al-Bireh |
| Population | 2,400 (2006) |
| Jurisdiction | 9,545 dunams (9.5 km²) |
'Atara (Arabic: عطارة) is a Palestinian village in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate, located 15 kilometers north of Ramallah in the central West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the village had a population of approximately 2,400 inhabitants in mid-year 2006.[1] It is situated on four mountains and is built upon the second highest point in the West Bank at 810 meters above sea level.[2][3] 'Atara's total land area consists of 9,545 dunams, most of which is cultivable.[3]
[edit] Economy
Until the early 1950s, 'Atara's inhabitants were dependent on agriculture as a main source of income. However, between 1952-55 hundreds of residents emigrated from the village to the Arab Gulf States, due to an unfavorable economic situation in the West Bank. Others began to look for work in nearby Ramallah and Jerusalem. After 1967, many inhabitants began to work in Israel. As a result, agricultural production has been further reduced and a substantial portion of 'Atara's economy became dependent residents working abroad.[2]
Eggs are a primary agricultural product and there are eleven egg farms in the village. Olives are also widely produced and are delivered to oil presses in the town of Ar'ura, where olive oil is produced. Israeli checkpoints around 'Atara, as well as the harvest of 'Atara's olive crop by Israeli settlers has effectively strained the village's economy.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Projected Mid -Year Population for Ramallah & Al Bireh Governorate by Locality 2004- 2006 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
- ^ a b c The Struggles of a Palestinian Community due to the West Bank Closure Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem. 2001-02-02.
- ^ a b Publications: Atara The Palestinian Association of Cultural Exchange
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