Bayt ‘Itab

Bayt ‘Itab was situated atop a high mountain, overlooking several lower surrounding peaks. Its lands extended southwestward to Wadi al-Maghara, and the village was surrounded by numerous springs that provided drinking and irrigation water. A secondary road linked Bayt ‘Itab to the Bayt Jibrin–Bethlehem road, which passed approximately 3 kilometers south of the village.

Bayt ‘Itab is believed to be the site referred to as Einadab in the list of Palestinian towns compiled by the 4th-century historian Eusebius, and it was known to the Crusaders as Bethahatab. In 1838, the American scholar Edward Robinson visited the village and described its stone houses as well-built, some consisting of two stories. At the center of the village were the ruins of a Crusader castle. Robinson estimated the population to be between 600 and 700 at the time.

In the 1850s, Bayt ‘Itab was the stronghold of the influential Lahham family, which held control over 24 villages in the ‘Iraqib district. However, in 1855, armed conflict broke out between the Lahham family and their rivals, the Abu Ghosh family, turning the village into the scene of intense battles. Eventually, Ottoman administrative authority reasserted control in the area, diminishing the influence of both families and transforming Bayt ‘Itab into a village like any other in the region.

By the late 19th century, Bayt ‘Itab was a stone-built village located on a hill rising 60 to 100 feet above the surrounding ridges. In 1875, its population was estimated at around 700. In more recent times, the Muslim inhabitants cultivated olive trees on terraces to the north of the village. A large cave, approximately 18 feet wide and 6 feet high, extended beneath the village houses.

Originally circular in shape, the village gradually expanded southwestward—parallel to the road leading toward the vicinity of the village of Sufla—and came to resemble a crescent. Most houses were constructed from stone. Agriculture was the primary source of livelihood, with lands planted with grains, olives, grapevines, and other fruit-bearing trees. In addition, residents owned extensive plots in the coastal plains, where they cultivated cereal crops. During the British Mandate, the authorities expropriated some of the village lands to establish a government forest.

Residents also engaged in livestock raising. Some agricultural plots were rain-fed, while others were irrigated by nearby springs. In 1944–1945, a total of 1,400 dunums was used for cereal cultivation, while 665 dunums were irrigated or used for orchards—including 116 dunums allocated for olive trees. The village also contained remains of a Crusader-era fortress.

Occupation and Depopulation

Bayt ‘Itab was one of several villages in the Jerusalem corridor that were occupied following the second truce of the 1948 war. According to Israeli historian Benny Morris, the village was occupied on October 21, 1948, during Operation Ha-Har (see: ‘Allar, Jerusalem District). This operation was coordinated with Operation Yoav (see: Barbara, Gaza District), which was a simultaneous offensive on the southern front aimed at advancing toward the Negev.

Current Status of the Village

Today, the site is covered with large quantities of rubble from destroyed village homes. Remnants of the Crusader castle are still visible. Two cemeteries—one to the west and one to the east of the village—remain, though many graves have been desecrated, and human bones are visible. Almond, carob, and olive trees grow within and around the site, while cactus plants grow along its southern edge. Israeli farmers currently cultivate portions of the surrounding agricultural land.

Israeli Settlements on Village Lands

In 1950, Israel established the settlement of Nes Harim (grid ref. 155128) on village land located to the north of the original site.