Sinjil

Basic Information

Type

Town

Governorate

Ramallah and Al-Bireh

Region

West Bank - Central

Overview

Sinjil takes its name from the French Crusader commander Raymond de Saint-Gilles, Count of Toulouse, who camped in the area in 1105 during the First Crusade. The town's residents trace their descent from the Murra tribe that emigrated from the Arabian Peninsula. Sinjil is an agricultural town surrounded by extensive olive groves, but like many Palestinian communities, it faces severe pressure from settlement expansion. The Shilo settlement (established 1979) sits just 3 km to the east and has become a major settlement bloc that blocks Sinjil's eastern expansion. The Eli and Ma'ale Levona settlements to the northeast and southeast further encircle the town. Shilo checkpoint on Route 60 restricts movement and access. In 2011, a settler from the Shilo area killed a Sinjil resident, highlighting the constant danger of settler violence that Palestinian communities face. The town has a strong tradition of sumud (steadfastness) and has maintained its presence despite encroachment.

Historical Significance

Named after Crusader commander Raymond de Saint-Gilles, reflecting the layered history of Palestine. The town has been a site of ongoing struggle against settlement expansion, particularly from the Shilo settlement bloc.

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
• B'Tselem
• Wikipedia
• PCHR Gaza

Sinjil is surrounded on three sides by settlements, making it one of the most encircled Palestinian towns in the Ramallah area.