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Bir Zeit (Arabic: بيرزيت) is a Palestinian town on the outskirts of Ramallah in the central West Bank.
The name Bir Zeit literally translates to "well of oil"; referring to the wells in which its inhabitants historically stored virgin-pressed olive oil. The topology of the town consists of hills and sloping terrains with its highest point known by locals as "al-Khirbeh", or "the ruin". Much of the surrounding land consists of olive trees which historically was a source of sustenance for what was primarily an agrarian society.
Today, Bir Zeit (also written as Birzeit) is a college town known for the flagship of Palestinian institutions, Birzeit University. The population of Birzeit is near 6,600 with much of its economy tied to the student population of the University. Several surrounding villages depend on Birzeit's economy; particularly during the latest round of road closures imposed by Israel. This has led to a business expansion within the town consisting of several restaurants, cafes, internet cafes, and salons.
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Coordinates: 31°58′N 35°12′E / 31.967, 35.2
