Biddu is located northwest of Jerusalem, and its population is estimated at about 10,000 people. The shrinking of its land and the decline in job opportunities are the most important challenges it faces.
The mayor, Salem Abu Eid, explained to Tel Aviv Tribune Net that the origin of the name “Biddu” goes back to the abundance of “Biddu” oil in the town in the past. The “Biddu” is a rock used to grind olives to extract oil in a traditional way.
The mayor points to archaeological discoveries and sites in the town dating back to the Canaanite and Roman eras.
According to the mayor, the most prominent challenges facing the residents are maintaining their presence in light of the decrease in land due to settlements and the wall that isolated it from Jerusalem and prevented residents from reaching the city and Al-Aqsa Mosque.
After Jerusalem was the center of life for the residents of Biddu, it was transformed into the city of Ramallah to the north, following the construction of the separation wall more than two decades ago, according to its mayor.
Since the start of the aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, Bedouin has been facing a major economic crisis; employees are not receiving full salaries, and workers inside Israel cannot reach their places of work, according to Abu Eid.