Aaitit[1] (Arabic: عيتيت) is a municipality located in Tyre District, South Lebanon, north of Qana.

Aaitit
عيتيت
'Aytit
Municipality
Aaitit is located in Lebanon
Aaitit
Aaitit
Coordinates: 33°13′28″N 35°18′19″E / 33.22444°N 35.30528°E / 33.22444; 35.30528
Grid position178/292 PAL
Country Lebanon
GovernorateSouth Governorate
DistrictTyre District
Area
 • Land2.76 sq mi (7.1 km2)
Elevation
950 ft (290 m)
Population
 (2011)[citation needed]
 • Total
12,000
Time zoneGMT +3

History

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In the early 1860s Ernest Renan noted: "Its antiquities are a stone with three circles, two with rays, in which are crosses (not of great age), a grotto, and beside it a good sarcophagus lid serving to support a press. Near Aitit is a rectangular cemetery, well preserved".[2]

In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it as "A village, built of stone, containing about 450 Metawileh, situated on hill-top, surrounded by olives and arable cultivation; water supplied from cisterns and a spring near."[3]

They further noted: "There are traces at this village of ancient remains. It is said by the natives that there was once a church here. There are broken pillars scattered about, stone lintels, three caves, and three olive-presses, with cisterns."[4] Aitit is mainly occupied by the family of the Mohsens, who have the majority of the village.

Modern era

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Due to it being close to Israel many attacks have been made against Hezbollah in Aaitit. Most of these incidents were due to the 2006 Lebanon War.

Demographics

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As of 2010, Aaitit had a year round population of about 2,500, though it rose to 3,000 in the summers. Some of the population had migrated to Paraguay and Brazil by this point.[5]

In 2014 Muslims made up 98.50% of registered voters in Aaitit. 96.87% of the voters were Shiite Muslims.[6]

References

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  1. ^ From personal name, according to Palmer, 1881, p. 17
  2. ^ Renan, 1864, p. 641, as given in Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 108
  3. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 90
  4. ^ Conder and Kitchener, 1881, SWP I, p. 108
  5. ^ admin (2014-04-11). "Aitit Village Profile, UNDP, 2010". Civil Society Knowledge Centre. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  6. ^ https://lub-anan.com/المحافظات/الجنوب/صور/عيتيت/المذاهب/

Bibliography

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