Beit-El

Beit-el (Bethel), 5km northeast of Ramallah on the road to Nablus, is thought to be the place where Jacob lay down to sleep and dreamed of a ladder ascending to heaven with angeis going down and up. Upon awakening, Jacob built an altar and named the spot Beit-EI, “House of God” (Genesis 28:12-19).

Today, Beit-El is the headquarters of the Israeli civilian administration that governs the West Bank. Although the administration delegates a modicum of authority to Arab mayors and other Palestinian leaders, power remains in the hands of the Israeli officials. The administration center itself is of no interest to tourists, but a visit to the nearby Jewish settlement of Beit-El may be worthwhile. Surrounded by tall fences and barbed wire and guarded by army patrols, the settlement provides a glimpse of lite in one of the besieged settlements. Most of the working population commutes to Jerusalem, but there are also a few cottage industries, including a workshop that manufactures tefillin (religious articles worn by orthodox male Jews on the head and arm during some prayers).

Beit-El is accessible by Egged bus *70 from Jerusalem or Al-Bireh. From Ramallah you can walk, take a taxi, or take the bus going to Nablus.