On the main road between the cities of Hebron and Bethlehem and near the town of Al-Khader in the southwest of Bethlehem a few kilometers to the west the beautiful view of a number of villages to the west of Bethlehem (Battir Husan Nahalin Al-Walaja) is seen. The villages are adjacent to the mountains of Jerusalem.
The entrance of the town of Battir is located at a high hill with a high density of population and a very steep slope ending in the Valley of Eagles at the bottom of the town. The land of the town had taken the shape of beautiful terraces of green land planted by greenery and fruits.
God’s Paradise on Earth
The sound of water flowing through old Canaanite canals under the shades of avocados pears eriobotryas figs and grapes surrounded by mint basins parsley legumes cucumbers and local squash ending at the old Roman Pool takes us to a totally different world. The water is then distributed to farms which are planted by the famous violet eggplant of Battir according to a pre-designed program.
The beauty of the town of Battir lies in its agricultural lands which start from the high entrance of the village overlooking the Jerusalem Mounts the ancient town and its ancient historical ruins and its deep valley (Wadi Al-Nsour) with a depth of about seven kilometers (8000 dunums). This valley still embraces the old Ottoman railway which connects northern and southern Palestine built in 1905.
Naming roots
Battir comes originally from the Canaanite word of Bit Eir which means the house of the birds referring to the famous eagles that used to inhabit its mountains and caves which is named the Valley of Eagles.
The village of Battir is a home for many Roman ruins such as water pools arches castles canals and stone terraces. In the Roman era it was a fortified fortress known as Bathier.
Elder Mohammed al-Qatush a 73-year-old resident of the village of Battir and a retired educator who works as a farmer in his land said: “The crops vegetables and fruits of Battir used to reach all villages and towns in Palestine especially the famous eggplants of Battir. Women used to carry big amounts of fruits and vegetables on their heads sending them to Jerusalem where merchants used to sell them to other towns and villages.”
“After the 1948 war Israel confiscated 870 dun ums of Palestinian land in the village. Yet villagers remained interested in agriculture. Thanks to God and the presence of water springs. Despite the decline of people’s interest in agriculture because of agricultural products from the nearby Israeli settlements the people of Battir are determined to preserve their agricultural heritage and revive their orchards that constitute the paradise of God on Earth.”
World heritage site
Akram Badr the mayor of Battir says that the town needs attention and support so that it can highlight its cultural and historical role. It is full of ancient history and heritage.
He said: “Battir’s beauty and orchards and its green natural terraces captivate hearts and embrace our people who come to enjoy its beauty.”
The mayor added to the PIC “We were able to include the village of Battir on the World Heritage List on June 21 2014. I attended the coronation ceremony held in Doha Qatar. We have done so much to realize this dream and held workshops which included researchers historians engineers and intellectuals who all contributed to highlighting the village of Battir and its position heritage and ancient history.”
He added: “We are still planning to raise the status of this beautiful village and build vital projects as much as we could by the help of the people of the village. We managed through creative people of the village to upgrade the village’s council to a municipal council. We will work to make the village a distinctive tourist site which provides all services to visitors.”
