Sur Baher

Basic Information

Type

Town

Governorate

Jerusalem

Region

Jerusalem

Overview

Sur Baher is a Palestinian neighborhood on the southeastern edge of occupied East Jerusalem, with a name meaning 'The Wall of Bahir (Prominent)' — possibly referring to a Crusader-era fortification. The area has been inhabited since ancient times, with archaeological finds including Iron Age olive presses, wine presses, cisterns, and burial caves that testify to agricultural prosperity stretching back millennia. In the Crusader era, it was known as Casale Sorbael, and in 1179 Pope Alexander III granted the village's revenue to the Mt. Zion Abbey. During Ottoman rule, it was a small Muslim village of 29 households (1596). Since 1967, Sur Baher has faced significant land confiscation for settlement construction: Har Homa (1997) on nearby Jabal Abu Ghneim, East Talpiot (1971), and Nof Zion (2010) have all consumed Sur Baher lands. The neighborhood's history of agricultural production — olives, grapes, and grains — has been erased by settlement expansion and urbanization.

Historical Significance

Contains significant archaeological remains from Iron Age through Byzantine periods. Crusader-era village.

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.

• Ir Amim
• B'Tselem
• UN OCHA
• ARIJ
• PCBS
• Peace Now
• BADIL Resource Center

Includes Umm Tuba