Beit Jala

Beit Jala
Municipality type B
Arabic transcription(s)
• Arabic	بيت جالا
• Latin	Bayt Jala (unofficial)
Hebrew transcription(s)
• Hebrew	בית ג'אלא
Beit Jala, with Saint Nicholas Church.
Municipal Seal of Beit Jala
Beit Jala Location of Beit Jala within Palestine
Coordinates: 31°42′54″N 35°11′14″E
Palestine grid	167/124
State	State of Palestine
Governorate	Bethlehem
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Head of Municipality	Nicola Khamis
Area
• Municipality type B	13.0 km2 (5.0 sq mi)
Population  (2017)
• Municipality type B	13,484
• Density	1,040/km2 (2,690/sq mi)
• Metro	97,559
Name meaning	House of Jala
Website	www.beitjala-city.org/en/

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Beit Jala (Arabic: بيت جالا^ⓘ) is a Palestinian Christian town in the Bethlehem Governorate of Palestine, in the West Bank. Beit Jala is located 10 km (6.2 mi)10 km south of Jerusalem, on the western side of the Hebron road, opposite Bethlehem, at 825 meters (2,707 ft) altitude. In 2017, Beit Jala had 13,484 inhabitants according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. About 80% of the population were Christians (mostly Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic) and about 20% Muslims.

Saint Nicholas – the inspiration for Santa Claus – is the patron saint of Beit Jala, where the Church of Saint Nicholas was built over a crypt where it is believed he lived for a couple years during his time in Palestine.