In 1730, Jews were evicted from the site and the mosque was built. During the War of Independence, Nebi Samwil was the scene of a battle in which the Haganah failed to capture the hill. Today, the casual visitor cannot help but be impressed by the extensive excavations, which clearly show the Crusader fortress and give a hint of the Hasmonean remains. A doorway with a keystone engraved with what appears to be a Magen David is of Arab, rather than Jewish, origin. The building dominates the hillcrest.
Flocks of birds fly back and forth in an imposing central entrance hall.
Behind a locked wire grille is the Moslem prayer hall, with a cenotaph in the center, surrounded by carpets. These days, it is the modern buildings such as the YMCA, the Holiday Inn, and the apartment houses of French Hill that seem to stand out. But far in the distance, shimmering above the horizon, is the gold Dome of the Rock. To visit Nebi Samwil, simply drive out from Jerusalem on the Ramot road. From Tel Aviv, take the alternate Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway, via Maccabim, past Givat Ze'ev and Givon Hahadasha.