Birzeit

Birzeit (Arabic: بيرزيت‎) (also written Bir Zeit) is a Palestinian town near Ramallah in the central West Bank. Its population in the 2007 census was 4529. Birzeit is a traditional Christian town. Its history dates back to the Byzantine era and earlier.

The name Birzeit literally translates to "well of oil"; referring to the wells in which its inhabitants historically stored virgin-pressed olive oil. The topology of the town consists of hills and sloping terrains with its highest point known by locals as "Al-Khirbeh", or "the ruin". Much of the surrounding land consists of olive trees which historically was a source of sustenance for what was primarily an agrarian society.

Today, Birzeit is known for its flagship of Palestinian institutions, Birzeit University. Much of its economy tied to the student population of the University. Several surrounding villages depend on Birzeit's economy; particularly during the latest round of road blocks and closures imposed by Israel. This has led to a business expansion within the town consisting of several restaurants, cafes, internet cafes and salons.

Everyday life in Birzeit town and university are described by Irish journalist David Lynch in his book, A Divided Paradise: An Irishman in the Holy Land. Lynch spent the summer of 2005 living in the town, and studying in the local university and writes about his experiences there.