World War II The British built fortresses in Jericho with the help of the Jewish company
Solel Boneh, and bridges were rigged with explosives in preparation for a possible invasion by German allied forces.
[76] After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of
World War I, Jericho came under the rule of the
Mandatory Palestine.
According to the 1922 census of Palestine, Jericho had 1,029 inhabitants, consisting of 931 Muslims, 6 Jews and 92 Christians;[77] where the Christians were 45 Orthodox, 12 Roman Catholics, 13 Greek Catholics (Melchites), 6 Syrian Catholic, 11 Armenians, 4 Copts and 1 Church of England.[78]
In 1927, an earthquake struck and affected Jericho and other cities. Around 300 people died,[79] but by the 1931 census the population had increased to 1,693 inhabitants, in 347 houses.[80]
In the 1945 statistics, the Jericho's population was 3,010; 2,570 Muslims, 170 Jews, 260 Christians and 10 classified as "other",[81] and it had jurisdiction over 37,481 dunams of land.[82] Of this, 948 dunams were used for citrus and bananas, 5,873 dunams were for plantations and irrigable land, 9,141 for cereals,[83] while a total of 38 dunams were urban, built-up areas.[84]
Jordanian period
Jericho came under Jordanian control after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The Jericho Conference, organized by King Abdullah and attended by over 2,000 Palestinian delegates in 1948 proclaimed "His Majesty Abdullah as King of all Palestine" and called for "the unification of Palestine and Transjordan as a step toward full Arab unity". In mid-1950, Jordan formally annexed the West Bank and Jericho residents, like other residents of West Bank localities became Jordanian citizens.[85]
In 1961, the population of Jericho was 10,166,[86] of whom 935 were Christian, the rest Muslim.[87]
1967, aftermath
Jericho has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967 along with the rest of the West Bank. It was the first city handed over to Palestinian Authority control in accordance with the Oslo Accords.[88] The limited Palestinian self-rule of Jericho was agreed on in the Gaza–Jericho Agreement of 4 May 1994. Part of the agreement was a "Protocol on Economic Relations", signed on 29 April 1994.According to the 1922 census of Palestine, Jericho had 1,029 inhabitants, consisting of 931 Muslims, 6 Jews and 92 Christians;[77] where the Christians were 45 Orthodox, 12 Roman Catholics, 13 Greek Catholics (Melchites), 6 Syrian Catholic, 11 Armenians, 4 Copts and 1 Church of England.[78]
In 1927, an earthquake struck and affected Jericho and other cities. Around 300 people died,[79] but by the 1931 census the population had increased to 1,693 inhabitants, in 347 houses.[80]
In the 1945 statistics, the Jericho's population was 3,010; 2,570 Muslims, 170 Jews, 260 Christians and 10 classified as "other",[81] and it had jurisdiction over 37,481 dunams of land.[82] Of this, 948 dunams were used for citrus and bananas, 5,873 dunams were for plantations and irrigable land, 9,141 for cereals,[83] while a total of 38 dunams were urban, built-up areas.[84]
Jericho came under Jordanian control after the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. The Jericho Conference, organized by King Abdullah and attended by over 2,000 Palestinian delegates in 1948 proclaimed "His Majesty Abdullah as King of all Palestine" and called for "the unification of Palestine and Transjordan as a step toward full Arab unity". In mid-1950, Jordan formally annexed the West Bank and Jericho residents, like other residents of West Bank localities became Jordanian citizens.[85]
In 1961, the population of Jericho was 10,166,[86] of whom 935 were Christian, the rest Muslim.[87]
Jericho has been occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967 along with the rest of the West Bank. It was the first city handed over to Palestinian Authority control in accordance with the Oslo Accords.[88] The limited Palestinian self-rule of Jericho was agreed on in the Gaza–Jericho Agreement of 4 May 1994. Part of the agreement was a "Protocol on Economic Relations", signed on 29 April 1994.[89] The city is in an enclave of the Jordan Valley that is in Area A of the West Bank, while the surrounding area is designated as being in Area C under full Israeli military control. Four roadblocks encircle the enclave, restricting Jericho's Palestinian population's movement through the West Bank.[90]
In response to the 2001 Second Intifada and suicide bombings, Jericho was re-occupied by Israeli troops.[88] A 2-metre (6 ft 7 in) deep trench was built around a large part of the city to control Palestinian traffic to and from Jericho.[91]
On 14 March 2006, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Bringing Home the Goods, raiding a Jericho prison to capture the PFLP general secretary, Ahmad Sa'adat, and five other prisoners, all of whom had been charged with assassinating the Israeli tourist minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001.Second Intifada and suicide bombings, Jericho was re-occupied by Israeli troops.[88] A 2-metre (6 ft 7 in) deep trench was built around a large part of the city to control Palestinian traffic to and from Jericho.[91]
On 14 March 2006, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Bringing Home the Goods, raiding a Jericho prison to capture the PFLP general secretary, Ahmad Sa'adat, and five other prisoners, all of whom had been charged with assassinating the Israeli tourist minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001.[92]
After Hamas assaulted a neighborhood in Gaza mostly populated by the Fatah-aligned Hilles clan, in response to their attack that killed six Hamas members, the Hilles clan was relocated to Jericho on 4 August 2008.[93]
In 2009, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs David Johnson inaugurated the Presidential Guard Training Center in Jericho, a $9.1 million training facility for Palestinian Authority security forces built with U.S. funding.[94]
The city's current mayor is Hassan Saleh, a former lawyer.
Jericho is located 258 metres (846 ft) below sea level in an oasis in Wadi Qelt in the Jordan Valley, which makes it the lowest city in the world.[7][19][95] The nearby spring of Ein es-Sultan produces 3.8 m3 (1,000 gallons) of water per minute, irrigating some 10 square kilometres (2,500 acres) through multiple channels and feeding into the Jordan River, 10 kilometres (6 mi) away.[19][95] Annual rainfall is 204 mm (8.0 in), mostly concentrated in the winter months and into early spring.[96] The average temperature is 11 °C (52 °F) in January and 31 °C (88 °F) in July.
According to the Köppen climate classification, Jericho has a hot desert climate (BWh). Rich alluvial soil and abundant spring water have made Jericho an attractive place for settlement.[95]
Climate data for Jericho
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Köppen climate classification, Jericho has a hot desert climate (BWh). Rich alluvial soil and abundant spring water have made Jericho an attractive place for settlement.[95]
In the first census carried out by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), in 1997, Jericho's population was 14,674. Palestinian refugees constituted a significant 43.6% of the residents or 6,393 people.[97] The gender make-up of the city was 51% male and 49% female. Jericho has a young population, with nearly half (49.2%) of the inhabitants being under the age of 20. People between the ages of 20 and 44 made up 36.2% of the population, 10.7% between the ages of 45 and 64, and 3.6% were over the age of 64.[98] In the 2007 census by the PCBS, Jericho had a population of 18,346.[3]
Demographics have varied widely depending on the dominant ethnic group and rule in the region over the past three thousand years. In a 1945 land and population survey by Sami Hadawi, 3,010 inhabitants is the figure given for Jericho, of which 94% (2840) were Arab and 6% (170) were Jews.[99]
Today, the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim.[100] The Christian community makes up around 1% of the population.[101] A large community of black Palestinians is present in Jericho.[100]
Economy
Jericho marketplace, 1967
In 1994, Israel and the Palestinians signed an economic accord that enabled Palestinians in Jericho to open banks, collect taxes and engage in export and import in preparation for self-rule.[102]
Tourism
In 2010, Jericho, with its proximity to the Dead Sea, was declared the most popular destination among Palestinian tourists.[103]
In 1998, a $150 million casino-hotel was built in Jericho with the backing of Yasser Arafat.[104] The casino is now closed, though the hotel on the premises is open for guests.
Biblical and Christian tourism
Christian tourism is one of Jericho's primary sources of income. There are several major Christian pilgrimage sites in and around Jericho.
Archaeological tourism
The archaeological sites in and near Jericho have a high potential for attracting tourists. These are dealt with in detail in the History and archaeology paragraph:
Agriculture
Agriculture is another source of income, with banana groves ringing the city.[4]
The Jericho Agro-Industrial Park is a public-private enterprise being developed in the Jericho area. Agricultural processing companies are being offered financial concessions to lease plots of land in the park in a bid to boost Jericho's economy.[105]
Schools and religious institutions
In 1925, Christian friars opened a school for 100 pupils that became the Terra Santa School. The city has 22 state schools and a number of private schools.[101]
Health care
In April 2010, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the renovation of the Jericho Governmental Hospital. USAID is providing $2.5 million in funding for this project.[106]
Sports
The sports team Hilal Areeha plays association football in the West Bank First Division. They play home games in the 15,000 spectator Jericho International Stadium.[107]
Twin towns – sister cities
Sami Hadawi, 3,010 inhabitants is the figure given for Jericho, of which 94% (2840) were Arab and 6% (170) were Jews. [99]
Today, the overwhelming majority of the population is Muslim. [100] The Christian community makes up around 1% of the population. [101] A large community of black Palestinians is present in Jericho. [100]
In 1994, Israel and the Palestinians signed an economic accord that enabled Palestinians in Jericho to open banks, collect taxes and engage in export and import in preparation for self-rule.[102]
Tourism
In 2010, Jericho, with its proximity to the Dead Sea, was declared the most popular destination among Palestinian tourists.[103]
In 1998, a $150 million casino-hotel was built in Jericho with the backing of Yasser Arafat.[104] The casino is now closed, though the hotel on the premises is open for guests.
Biblical and Christian tourism
Christian tourism is one of Jericho's primary sources of income. There are several major Christian pilgrimage sites in and around Jericho.
- Mount of Temptation, topped by a Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Temptation with panoramic views of the region. A cable car runs up to the monastery.[4]
- the Spring of Elisha, as the Ein es-Sultan spring is known to Jews and Christians
- the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus (two such trees are venerated at different locations as be
In 2010, Jericho, with its proximity to the Dead Sea, was declared the most popular destination among Palestinian tourists.[103]
In 1998, a $150 million casino-hotel was built in Jerich In 1998, a $150 million casino-hotel was built in Jericho with the backing of Yasser Arafat.[104] The casino is now closed, though the hotel on the premises is open for guests.
Christian tourism is one of Jericho's primary sources of income. There are several major Christian pilgrimage sites in and around Jericho.
- Mount of Temptation, topped by a
The archaeological sites in and near Jericho have a high potential for attracting tourists. These are dealt with in detail in the History and archaeology paragraph:
Agriculture
Agriculture is another source of income, with banana groves ringing the city.[4]
The Jericho Agro-Industrial Park is a public-private enterprise being developed in the Jericho area. Agricultural processing companies are being offered financial concessions to lease plots of land in the park in a bid to boost Jericho's economy.[105]
|