Givat Harel

Eli (Hebrew: עֵלִי) is a large Israeli settlement in the West Bank organized as a community settlement, located on Highway 60, north of Ramallah, between the Palestinian villages of As-Sawiya and Qaryut, part of whose lands were expropriated for the establishment of Eli. It was named after the biblical high-priest who served in the Tabernacle in nearby biblical Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:9). In 2021 it had a population of 4,613. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.

The Road of the Patriarchs or Way of the Patriarchs (Hebrew: דֶּרֶךְ הֲאָבוֹת Derech haʾAvot Lit. Way (of) the Fathers), is an ancient north–south route traversing the land of Israel and the region of Palestine. The modern Highway 60 (Israel-Palestine) follows roughly the route of the Way of the Patriarchs. The name is used by biblical scholars because of mentions in biblical narratives that it was frequently travelled by Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.It is also called the Hill Road or the Ridge Route because it follows the watershed ridge line of the Samarian and Judaean Mountains. It runs from Megiddo and Hazor south to Beersheba by way of Shechem, Bethel, Jerusalem, Ephrath and Hebron. Unlike the Via Maris and the King's Highway which were international roads crossing the territories of many peoples, the Ridge Route was wholly within the territory of ancient Israel.

Qaryout (Arabic: قريوت) is a Palestinian village in the Nablus Governorate in the northern West Bank, located 28 kilometers (17 mi) southeast of Nablus. Qaryut is an ancient village. Its current inhabitants trace their origins to the Hejaz. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), Qaryut had a population of 2,560 inhabitants in 2017.

Shilo (Hebrew: שִׁלֹה / שילה Šîlô) is an Israeli settlement in the northern West Bank. Located 28 miles (45 km) north of Jerusalem on Route 60 and organised as a religious community settlement, it is neighboured by the Israeli settlements of Eli and Maale Levona and the Palestinian villages Sinjil, Turmus Ayya and Qaryut, and falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. In 2021 it had a population of 4,783 (the official census includes the population of Shvut Rachel and additional unincorporated communities to its east). The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this.

Turmus Ayya (Arabic: ترمسعيّا) is a Palestinian town located in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the West Bank, in Palestine. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), it had a population of 2,464 in 2017. An estimated 80% of the residents are Palestinian binationals with US citizenship.Turmus Ayya is the frequent target of Israeli settler violence.

Sinjil (Arabic: سنجل) is a Palestinian town northeast of Ramallah in the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the central West Bank.

As-Sawiya (Arabic: الساويه) is a Palestinian town in the Nablus Governorate of the State of Palestine, in the northern West Bank, located 18 kilometers south of Nablus. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the town had a population of 2,761 inhabitants in 2017.

The Battle of the Ascent of Lebonah (Hebrew: קרב מעלה לבונה) or Battle with Apollonius (Hebrew: קרב אפולוניוס) was the first battle fought between the Maccabees and the Seleucid Empire in 167 or 166 BCE. The Jewish forces were led by Judas Maccabeus (Judah Maccabee) and the Seleucid army force was under the command of Apollonius, described by Josephus as "the strategos (general) of the Samaritan forces".In the earliest stages of the Maccabean Revolt, Judas had a small band of guerrilla combat units in the hills of northern Judea and southern Samaria. Apollonius was sent with the local Samaritan armies to link up with Seleucid forces from Jerusalem. The exact location of the battle is not known, but presumably it was along a road between Samaria and Jerusalem. The date of the battle is not precisely known either, but occurred early in the revolt. It is the first battle discussed in the book of 1 Maccabees, hence generally being dated to 167–166 BCE. The precise details of the battle are not known either, but 2 Maccabees writes that the rebels fought using guerrilla warfare in the early stage of the revolt, by "coming unexpectedly" on their foes and at night. It is reasonably possible that this battle was similar, with a surprise attack while the enemy was unaware. The larger Syrian Greek army was defeated, and Judas defeated Apollonius in personal combat. Another force was soon sent against Maccabees, which led to the Battle of Beth Horon.

Ma'ale Levona (Hebrew: מַעֲלֵה לְבוֹנָה, lit. Ascent of Frankincense) is an Israeli settlement organized as a community settlement in the West Bank. Located to the south-east of Ariel, it falls under the jurisdiction of Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. In 2021, it had a population of 976. According to the ARIJ, land from the neighboring Palestinian villages of Sinjil, Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya, and Abwein were confiscated to build the settlement. The international community considers Ma'ale Levona and other Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law. However, the Israeli government disputes this.

Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya (Arabic: اللبّن الشرقية) is a Palestinian village in the northern West Bank, located 20 kilometers south of Nablus, in the Nablus Governorate of the State of Palestine. The town has a total land area of 12,075 dunams of which 200 dunams is built-up area. The village is just north of the historic Khan al-Lubban caravansary. In 2012, Ammuriya was joined with Al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya into one Municipal Council, called Al Lubban ash Sharqiya.

Talfit (Arabic: تلفيت) is a Palestinian village in the Nablus Governorate in the northern West Bank, located southeast of Nablus. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) census, it had a population of 3,591 in 2017.

Shvut Rachel (Hebrew: שבות רחל) is a former Israeli settlement in the West Bank, retroactively designated a neighborhood of the settlement of Shilo, in the West Bank. Shvut Rachel sits between the Palestinian villages of Turmus Ayya, Qaryut and Jalud, part of whose lands were expropriated for building Shvut Rachel. Nearby Israeli settlements include Shilo, Giv'at Har'el, Esh Kodesh, Keeda, and Adei Ad. The village, administrated by the Matte Binyamin Regional Council, has a population of 100 families. The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, but the Israeli government disputes this. The Sasson Report in 2005 noted that the settlement extends over Palestinian land, part of which is owned by Fawzi Haj Ibrahim Mohammad from Jalud, turned over to the settlement after the Israeli authorities declared it state land.