Also spelled RAMALLAH, town, central Palestine, adjacent to the town of
Al-Birah (east) and north of Jerusalem. Ram Allah has since the Six-Day War
of 1967 been under Israeli occupation as part of the West Bank territory.
Situated on the crest of the Judaean Hills, at an elevation of 2,861 feet
(872 m) above sea level, Ram Allah has fine summer breezes and has long
been a popular Arab resort. The surrounding area is fertile, olives and
viticulture are important. Birzeit University was founded at Ram Allah in
1924.
The demographic makeup of the town changed drastically between 1948 and
1967, formerly Ram Allah was predominantly Christian and twice as large as
Al-Birah, a Muslim town. In 1967, Ram Allah's population was 12,134, only
slightly more than half Christian, while Al-Birah, including a large
refugee camp, was 13,037. Pop.