The best university in Palestine is in the town. Majority of the people are unskilled labourers. It is a traditional Christian village whose ruins date back to the Byzantine era and beyond.
Some inhabitants look at a long family history that predates even the Byzantine age.
An influx of Christians from the east migrated into the area about four hundred years ago to escape persecution and stayed on in an area where they could enjoy more freedom to exercise their religious beliefs. The town is part of the historically Christian region north of Jerusalem. The simple farming and pastoral life style of the people was destroyed after 1948. A massive refugee camp was set up on church owned property to accommodate people fleeing death or forcibly evacuated from their homes by the conquering army. That refugee camp, Jalazon, now is home for almost 10,000 people and is located a few miles from the town.