Bethlehem Governorate

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Palestinian Local Government in the West Bank v • d • e

Jenin Qabatiya Ya'bad Yamun JENIN Tulkarm TULKARM TUBAS Tubas Nablus NABLUS QALQILYA Qalqilyah SALFIT Salfit RAMALLAH AND AL-BIREH Ramallah al-Bireh Beitunia Jericho JERICHO Jerusalem (al-Quds) JERUSALEM Bethlehem BETHLEHEM HEBRON Halhul Hebron Yatta Dura ad-Dhahiriya

The Bethlehem Governorate (Arabic: محافظة بيت لحم‎) is one of 16 Governorates of the West Bank and Gaza Strip within the Palestinian Territories. It covers an area of the West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Its principal city and district capital is Bethlehem Municipality. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, its population was 180,116 in mid-year 2006.^[1]

Contents 1 Geography 2 Politics 3 Localities 3.1 Municipalities 3.2 Local and village councils 3.3 Refugee camps 4 References

[edit] Geography

According to the Bethlehem Municipality, the city has a total area of 575 km² (222.3 mi²). Of this area, 80 km² (30.8 mi²) in currently under the control of the Palestinian National Authority.^[2][3]

[edit] Politics

Politically, the Bethlehem Governorate is something of a stronghold of the Palestinian left. At the Palestinian legislative election, 2006 the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and The Alternative both had their best votes there. Its current governor is Salah al-Tamari.

[edit] Localities

The governorate consists of 10 municipalities, 3 refugee camps, and 58 rural districts

[edit] Municipalities

• Battir
• Beit Fajjar
• Beit Jala
• Beit Sahour
• Beit Lahm (Bethlehem)
• al-Dawha
• Husan
• al-Khader
• Nahalin
• Tuqu'
• al-Ubeidiya
• Za'atara

[edit] Local and village councils

'Arab al-Rashayida Artas al-Asakra Beit Ta'mir Dar Salah Hindaza al 'Iqab Juhdum Jurat ash Sham'a

Khirbet al-Deir Marah Rabah Rakhme Umm Salamuna ash Shawawra Wadi al-Arayis Wadi Fukin al-Walaja

[edit] Refugee camps

• Aida
• 'Azza
• Dheisheh

[edit] References

v • d • e Bethlehem Governorate Cities Beit Jala · Beit Sahour · Bethlehem (Beit Lahm) Municipalities Battir · Beit Fajjar · al-Dawha · Husan · al-Khader · Nahalin · Tuqu' · al-Ubeidiya · Za'atara Villages 'Arab al-Rashayida · Artas · al-Asakra · Beit Ta'mir · Dar Salah · Hindaza · al-'Iqab · Jab'a · Juhdum · Jurat ash Sham'a · Khirbet al-Deir · Marah Rabah · Rakhme · Umm Salamuna · ash Shawawra · Wadi al-Arayis · Wadi Fukin · al-Walaja Refugee camps Aida · 'Azza · Dheisheh

v • d • e Governorates of the Palestinian National Authority West Bank Jerusalem · Bethlehem · Hebron · Jenin · Jericho · Nablus · Qalqilya · Ramallah and al-Bireh · Salfit · Tubas  · Tulkarm Gaza Strip Deir al-Balah · Gaza · Khan Yunis · North Gaza · Rafah

Coordinates: 31°39′N 35°18′E / 31.65°N 35.3°E / 31.65; 35.3