Qatamon

Al-Qatamon is a western neighborhood located slightly south of the city of Jerusalem. It is situated on a hill overlooking most of the Arab and Jewish neighborhoods of New Jerusalem, including Al-Buq‘ah al-Fawqa, Al-Buq‘ah al-Tahta, Rehavia, Mekor Chaim, and Al-Talbiya. The most prominent landmark in Al-Qatamon is the Monastery of Mar Samaan, which serves as the summer patriarchal seat of the Greek Orthodox Church. Due to this, the neighborhood, and particularly the monastery building, held significant military value recognized by Zionist forces in Al-Qatamon, west of occupied Jerusalem.

The original area of Al-Qatamon neighborhood is approximately 157 dunams. The Battle of Al-Qatamon took place west of the neighborhood, in front of the Monastery of Mar Samaan. The neighborhood comprised about 204 houses inhabited by Arab Muslim and Christian families, as well as foreign families who settled there during the British Mandate of Palestine.

Al-Qatamon was established on lands owned by the Orthodox Church, which at that time declared the sale of these lands in an effort to settle its debts. The families who purchased these lands were Palestinian Arab Muslim and Christian families, mostly from the middle class and above. Additionally, some British and Jewish residents lived in these neighborhoods, most of whom were tenants rather than owners.

A total of 204 Arab houses were built in the Al-Qatamon neighborhood, which extended over an area of 157 dunams.