Located on a hill 700 m (2,300 ft) above sea level to the west of the Hebron area, it is organised as a community settlement and falls under the jurisdiction of Har Hevron Regional Council.

The nearest Israeli locality is Shekef, a moshav a few kilometres over the Green Line in the Hevel Lakhish area of the Shephelah.

In 1998, constraints of the Nahal brigade led to the village changing hands and being turned over hesder soldiers who volunteered for extra service to keep a residential presence on that hilltop.

The soldiers renovated the area, built a beit midrash and eventually completed their army service and continued to raise families there.

On 25 September 2003, the night of Rosh Hashana, a Palestinian militant from Islamic Jihad killed two residents, including a 7-month-old baby girl, while the family was eating the festive holiday meal.