The population count is at approximately 3,800 inhabitants, however this number increases to about 5,000 during the vacations and summer times.

"[2] In 1875 Victor Guérin found it to be a Metawileh village,[3] he further noted: "Here are traces of a surrounding wall, ancient materials, a tomb cut in the rock, and a quarry, a part of which has been formed into a tank.

"[4] In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it as: "A village, built of stone, containing about 150 Metawileh; no houses of note; situated on a hill, surrounded by olives, figs, and arable land, with a spring and cisterns.

The residents believe it to be the remains of a small castle or stronghold.Unfortunately, this greenly oak hill has been bombarded several times since the 1970s by the Israeli jets.

Currently the municipality runs the services required for the town independently, although still remaining under the control of the central government.