Seven kilometers northwest of Jerusalem lies Biddu a Palestinian town etched in history. Biddu’s story is one of resilience. It’s a story woven from threads of displacement and struggle.
Biddu a name possibly derived from a Semitic root stands on a high plateau. For centuries it thrived. In the 1800s travelers like Edward Robinson noted its Muslim inhabitants and its proximity to Beit Surik. Victor Guerin described its old houses. Albert Socin documented its seventy homes and a rock-cut cistern.
Biddu’s past echoes with the sounds of Crusader roads and Ottoman tax records. Archaeological remains hint at a Jewish farmhouse from the Second Temple period. The ruins of a possible synagogue stand as silent witnesses to Biddu’s long history.
The 1948 Arab-Israeli war drastically altered Biddu’s destiny. Following an attack by the Palmach its homes were demolished. Wells were poisoned. Many inhabitants were displaced becoming refugees. Some found refuge in Biddu itself. Others having lost their lands near al-Lydd.
After 1949 Biddu came under Jordanian rule. In 1967 it fell under Israeli occupation. The town’s population fluctuated. Some inhabitants originated from Israeli territory.
Biddu became a part of what’s known as the Biddu enclave. This enclave comprised several Palestinian villages separated from each other and from Jerusalem by the separation barrier. The barrier significantly limited access to land and resources. Agricultural gates opened only seasonally hampering livelihoods. A complex permit system further restricted access for farmers.
The construction of the barrier caused the loss of agricultural land in Biddu. The loss of access to land forced farmers to change their agricultural practices and the types of crops they could cultivate. The Israeli authorities did not always open the gates at the agreed time. This lack of predictability caused uncertainty and reduced productivity.
Despite these challenges Biddu’s people have shown remarkable resilience. Their non-violent resistance to the appropriation of their land is a testament to their spirit. Their ongoing struggle for access to their land and resources continues. Biddu stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and a reminder of the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity. The story of Biddu is a testament to enduring hope a beacon of strength against the backdrop of conflict.