Al-Qlayaa

Al-Qlayaa
القليعة
Municipality
Al-Qlayaa
Al-Qlayaa
Location within Lebanon
Coordinates: 33°19′45″N 35°33′57″E / 33.32917°N 35.56583°E / 33.32917; 35.56583
Grid position133/155 L
Country Lebanon
GovernorateNabatieh Governorate
DistrictMarjayoun District
Elevation
660 m (2,170 ft)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Dialing code+961

Al-Qlayaa (Arabic: القليعة) is a municipality in the Marjayoun District in southern Lebanon. The inhabitants are mainly Maronite Christians.

Etymology

According to E. H. Palmer, the name means "the little castle".[1]

Geography

The village sits on a ridge at an elevation estimated between 650 and 700 meters (2,130–2,300 ft) above sea level.[4][5][6] Its position places it within the hilly landscape of the Upper Galilee region, an area characterized by rolling highlands and valleys typical of southern Lebanese terrain.[2] Al-Qlaiaah lies around 4.5 kilometers southwest of the town of Marjayoun and approximately four kilometers from the Israeli border. Its elevated position offers broad views over the Litani River valley to the west.

History

In 1838, Eli Smith noted Al-Qlayaa's population as Maronite.[3]

In 1870 Victor Guérin found the village to have 400 Maronite inhabitants.[4]

In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village, built of stone, containing about 150 Christians; it contains a church, and is situated on a ridge, with vineyards, olives, figs, and arable land around; it has a birket and spring near."[5] Note that a birket is a pool of water.

On 9 March 2026, an Israeli tank fired on a house in the village twice, killing the parish priest, Pierre al-Rahi.[6][7]

Demographics

In 2014 Christians made up 98.81% of registered voters in Al-Qlayaa. 92.40% of the voters were Maronite Catholics.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Palmer, 1881, p. 29
  2. ^ "El Qlaiaa AR القليعة". .Geo View. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  3. ^ Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 137
  4. ^ Guerin, 1880, p. 279
  5. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 89
  6. ^ L'OLJ (9 March 2026). "Israeli strikes kill priest from village in Marjayoun district". today.lorientlejour.com. L’Orient-Le Jour.
  7. ^ Gavlak, Dale (9 March 2026). "Lebanese Maronite Catholic Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire in Southern Lebanon". osvnews.com. OSV News.
  8. ^ https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/النبطية/مرجعيون/القليعة/المذاهب/

Bibliography