The town was one of the most ancient cities in the world, being one of five cities of the Palestine Alliance, which had been fought over many times during its 4,000-year history.
Byen var en af de ældste byer i verden, da den var en af de fem byer i den palæstinensiske alliance, som der var blevet kæmpet om mange gange i løbet af dens 4.000-årige historie.