Silwad

Basic Information

Type

Town

Governorate

Ramallah and Al-Bireh

Region

West Bank - Central

Overview

Silwad is a Palestinian town located 20 km northeast of Ramallah at an elevation of 880 meters, overlooking the Jordan Valley to the east. The town was inhabited during the Mamluk and early Ottoman periods and is built on agricultural land with extensive olive groves. Silwad has a notable history of resistance to occupation — during the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt against British colonial rule, Silwad was a center of rebel activity. The town also played a role in both the First and Second Intifadas. After the 1967 Israeli occupation, Silwad faced significant land confiscation for settlement construction. The Ofra settlement (established 1975) sits on lands to the southwest, and the Shilo settlement (established 1979) is to the east — both built partly on Silwad's agricultural lands. The Ofra checkpoint restricts movement toward Ramallah. The town is known for its strong communal identity and agricultural traditions.

Historical Significance

Center of resistance during the 1936-1939 Arab Revolt against British colonial rule. Notable in both Intifadas as a site of resistance to occupation. The town's location on the Ramallah-Nablus ridge has made it strategically significant.

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

• PCBS 2017 Census
• ARIJ
• UN OCHA
• Palestine Remembered
• Wikipedia

Silwad's history of resistance from the 1936 Revolt through the Intifadas has shaped its communal identity. Settlement expansion continues to threaten agricultural lands.