Jifna
Jifna is situated at the base of a lush green hill, overlooking a fertile valley rich with crops, 23 km north of Jerusalem and west of the main road connecting Jerusalem and Nablus. Historically significant, Jifna was a key location on the ancient Roman road and a notable stop on Christian pilgrimage routes. The village exemplifies a traditional Palestinian settlement, characterized by its historical landscape adorned with olive groves and vineyards. The name "Jifna" derives from the Arabic word for vine, reflecting the abundance of grapes cultivated in the area.
The village is marked on the Madaba map and was home to a Byzantine church dedicated to Al-Khader. While the church's eastern section remains, much of the structure has been lost, with only the side walls surviving from the Crusader period. On the southern edge of the village, remnants of a Byzantine-era church with mosaic flooring have been discovered. Additionally, along the eastern border of the old village, archaeologists have uncovered traces of a grape press, a Byzantine cemetery, and a tower from the Crusader era.