Ein Karem (or Ein Kerem as others tend to write it) is a quiet village nestling on the slopes of the ancient terraced hillsides, west of Jerusalem. It is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of John the Baptist; and it is identified as the village where the family of John the Baptist lived "in the hill country of Judah" (Luke 1). The village contains a number of churches, which commemorate Mary's visit to Elizabeth, and the birth of St. John. Ein Karem has been a traditional Christian pilgrimage destination for centuries, following Marys route from Ein Karem to Bethlehem.

Location and Area: Jerusalem district, it is the largest village in the district. Located 7 km. southwest of Jerusalem. Ein Karem and surrounding agricultural terraces located to the west of Jerusalem were also incorporated in the Municipal boundaries of West Jerusalem, as well as Lifta and Deir Yassin. Land ownership in 1948 in this village was as follows:

Thus, Palestinians owned 90%, the Jews 9% and the rest was public. The area of its land is 15029 dunums. Olive trees were planted in 4300 dunums out of the whole area.

Population: The number of the population in the year 1948 was 3689, around one third of them were Christian Catholic Palestinians.

Schools: There were two schools in the village in the year 1942-1943. The seventh grade was the highest grade in the boys school, while the fourth grade was the highest one in the girls school.

Archeological Sites: contains tombs engraved in the rocks, mosaics, and bases. There are many churches and monasteries in the village. It is said that prophet Yahya the Baptist Yohanna was born in the village.

Characteristics: Ein karem contains churches and monasteries that are built, according to the traditions, on the places that are related to the life of prophet Yahya. The most famous among these are: Fransiscan monastery, St. Yohanna church, Maryem spring, az-Zeyareh church, and Mar Zakareyyeh monastery.

Fate: In July of 1948, all the inhabitants of this village were forced to leave the village by the Jewish armed forces. Today, Jews inhabit all the village houses

Date of Expulsion: 18-7-1948

Sources: Dr. Salman Abu Sateh, al-Awdeh Palestinian center (London) 1998. Our Land Palestine; Mostafa Dabagh, 1991


Ein Karem and the Jews

The Jewish Hadassah Hospital is built on the lands of the village. However, it is one of the major ironies of history that the Yad Vashem, a memorial to the Jewish victims of the Nazis, is built on the terraced land of the dispossessed, exiled, and involuntarily absentee Palestinians of Ein Karem.

The Jewish memorial built on the lands of Ein Karem, is a witness to the fact that the Palestinians are the last victims of Hitler, as they had to pay the price with their villages, land and country, Palestine, for the establishment of the Jewish State.

Advertisement