-Chassis structural stampings and assemblies, including full frames and cradles -Suspension components, modules and systems
99-668: Tower International is a manufacturer of automotive structural metal components and assemblies primarily serving original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”). Tower International supply body-structure stampings, frame and other chassis structures, and complex welded assemblies for small and large cars, crossovers, pickups, and sport utility vehicles. Headquartered in Livonia, Michigan , the company generated revenues of $ 2.0 billion in 2017. Their products are manufactured at 23 facilities, located near customers in North America and Europe. Tower supports
198-705: A "collusion" between the Palestinian Authority and Israel to turn Ramallah into the political as well as the financial capital of the Palestinians. He is particularly worried by the construction of a large new governmental complex by the PA. Hatem Abdel Kader , a Jerusalem resident, Fatah legislator and former Minister for Jerusalem Affairs, complained that "If they are building a new government compound here, that means they have no plans to be based in Jerusalem... Unfortunately,
297-416: A 2010 American Community Survey , the median income for a household in the city was $ 65,391, and the median income for a family was $ 77,119. Males had a median income of $ 62,071 versus $ 42,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 29,536. About 5.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over. As of
396-569: A Friends Meeting House for worship in the city center in 1910. According to the school's official website, most high school students choose to take the International Baccalaureate exams (IBE) instead of the traditional "Tawjihi" university exams. The activity of foreign churches in Palestine in the late 19th century increased awareness of prosperity in the West. In Ramallah and Bethlehem ,
495-620: A few miles south, local residents began to seek economic opportunity overseas. In 1901, merchants from Ramallah emigrated to the United States and established import-export businesses, selling handmade rugs and other exotic wares across the Atlantic. Increased trade dramatically improved living standards for Ramallah's inhabitants. American cars, mechanized farming equipment, radios, and later televisions became attainable luxuries for upper-class families. As residents of Jaffa and Lydda moved to Ramallah,
594-628: A lively nightlife, with many restaurants including the Stars and Bucks Cafe, a branch of the Tche Tche Cafe and the Orjuwan Lounge , described in 2010 as two among the "dozens of fancy restaurants, bars and discotheques that have cropped up in Ramallah in the last three years". One hallmark of Ramallah is Rukab's Ice Cream, which is based on the resin of chewing gum and thus has a distinctive taste. Another
693-476: A mile from the village. On the east there is a well. There are rock-cut tombs to the north-east with well-cut entrances, but completely blocked with rubbish. In the village is a Greek church, and on the east a Latin convent and a Protestant schoolhouse, all modern buildings. The village lands are Wakuf , or ecclesiastical property, belonging to the Haram of Jerusalem. About a quarter of the inhabitants are Roman Catholics,
792-616: A mob, enraged in particular by the Muhammad al-Durrah incident in Gaza. A frenzied crowd killed the two IDF reservists, mutilated their bodies, and dragged them through the streets. Later that afternoon, the Israeli army carried out an air strike on Ramallah, demolishing the police station. Israel later succeeded in capturing and prosecuting some of those involved in the deaths of the reservists. The IDF has occasionally operated inside Ramallah, in breach of
891-519: A population of 635, though the population count included men only. The village was described as being in the Bire area,"north of Mikhmas , on a rocky hill." In 1896, the population of Ramallah was estimated to be about 2,061 persons. In the 1922 census of Palestine conducted by the British Mandate authorities , Ramallah had a population of 3,104 (2,972 Christians , 125 Muslims , and seven Jews ),
990-532: A population of 71 Christian households and 9 Muslim households. It paid a fixed tax rate of 25% on wheat, barley, olives, vines or fruit trees, and goats or beehives; a total of 9,400 akçe . All of the revenue went to a waqf . In 1838, American biblical scholar Edward Robinson visited the area, noting that the inhabitants were Christian "of the Greek rite". There were 200 taxable men, which gives an estimated total population of 800–900 people. The village "belonged" to
1089-427: A public poll on the "Worst Speed Trap Cities" in North America. Livonia was listed at #2. Ramallah Ramallah ( UK : / r ə ˈ m æ l ə / rə- MAL -ə , US : / r ə ˈ m ɑː l ə / rə- MAH -lə ; Arabic : رام الله , romanized : Rām Allāh , lit. 'God's Height' ) is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank , that serves as
SECTION 10
#17328801494631188-581: A stake in Rawabi , a completely new town being constructed in the hills outside Ramallah at a cost of $ 1 billion. Ramallah has highest concentration of high-tech companies. ASAL technologies, an information technology company in Ramallah, has 120 employees and is looking forward to "exponential growth". In collaboration with the Republic of India , a new tech park named, the India Palestine Techno Park
1287-486: Is 1,591 mm (63 in). The Köppen climate classification places Ramallah in the Csa category. Climates of this class generally occur on the western sides of continents between the latitudes of 30° and 45°. These climates are in the polar front region in winter, and thus have moderate temperatures and changeable, rainy weather. Summers are hot and dry, due to the domination of the subtropical high pressure systems, except in
1386-587: Is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan . A western suburb of Detroit , Livonia is located roughly 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of downtown Detroit . As of the 2020 census , the city had a population of 95,535. Originally organized as Livonia Township in 1835, it was incorporated as a city in 1950. After most members of the indigenous tribes were pushed out of the area, ethnic European-American pioneers from New England and New York settled here. The borders of Livonia Township were defined by
1485-592: Is a popular venue for such events. The Al-Kasaba Theatre is a venue for plays and movies. In 2004, the state-of-the art Ramallah Cultural Palace opened in the city. The only cultural center of its kind in the Palestinian-governed areas, it houses a 736-seat auditorium, as well as conference rooms, exhibit halls, and movie-screening rooms. It was a joint venture of the Palestinian Authority, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and
1584-485: Is also a Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Ramallah, built in 1895. The Roman Catholic Church also established its presence in Ramallah the 19th century and constitutes today the second-largest Christian denomination in the city. The Roman Catholic Church established the St. Joseph's Girls' School run by St. Joseph sisters, as well as the co-educational Al-Ahliyyah College high school run by Rosary sisters. In 1913, construction of
1683-460: Is attributed to fighting and unrest among clans in that area. Haddadin was attracted to the mountainous site of Ramallah because it was similar to the mountainous areas he came from. In addition, the heavily forested area could supply him with plenty of fuel for his forges. In 1596, Ramallah was listed in the tax registers as being in the nahiya of Quds (Jerusalem), part of the Liwa of Quds . It had
1782-833: Is home to the Livonia Hockey Association , the largest amateur hockey association in Michigan, as well as two-time state champions the Livonia Knights. The city also boasts the Livonia City Soccer Club, one of the largest soccer programs in the state, with 1,300 participants. The Livonia Public Library includes the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and
1881-489: Is ignited in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre and is passed on through candles and lanterns to regional churches. A variety of mosques and churches of different denominations dot the landscape. Ramallah is generally considered the most affluent and cultural, as well as the most liberal, of all Palestinian cities, and is home to a number of popular Palestinian activists, poets, artists, and musicians . It boasts
1980-497: Is located in Birzeit . Apple Inc operates a research & development center in Rawabi with ASAL Technologies. A large number multinational companies operates facilities in Ramallah, which outsource Palestinians. By 2010, Ramallah had become the leading center of economic and political activity in the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority. During a building boom in
2079-415: Is one of the city's largest mosques . The Orthodox Church of Ramallah , an Orthodox Christian convent , Melkite Catholic Church , Evangelical Lutheran Church, Arab Episcopal ( Anglican ) Church, Ramallah Local Church ( Evangelical \ Born Again ) and Ramallah Baptist Church all operate schools in the city. A large new church has been built on top of one of the highest hills of Ramallah, belonging to
SECTION 20
#17328801494632178-457: Is represented by, Jewell Jones (Democrat). Various private and public colleges and universities are located in Livonia, including Madonna University , Schoolcraft College , and a small University of Phoenix campus. The most recent university to open in Livonia is a Davenport University campus, which opened in 2008, but left the city to move to Detroit in 2017. Most of Livonia is served by
2277-485: Is the First Ramallah Group, a boy- and girl-scout club that also holds a number of traditional dance ( Dabka ) performances and is also home to men's and women's basketball teams that compete regionally. International music and dance troupes occasionally make a stop in Ramallah, and the renowned Argentinian-Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim performs there often. The Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center , founded in 1996,
2376-448: Is the home of the school of Global Education, an alternative education model which combines students' English and social studies classes with a focus on the student's role in the world. Churchill houses the MSC (Math/Science/Computer) and CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) programs. Franklin currently offers an International Baccalaureate program for select students. Frost Middle School houses
2475-642: The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News . The Livonia Observer is printed twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The newspaper Between the Lines and the website PrideSource are headquartered in Livonia. Livonia has limited access to public bus service through the Detroit Department of Transportation . In 2012, the National Motorists Association released the results of
2574-647: The British Army captured and occupied Ramallah in December 1917. The city remained occupied until the designation of the Palestine Mandate in 1920, resulting in Ramallah falling under British Mandatory control until 1948. In the 1920s, the economy of Ramallah started to improve, resulting in the local Arab upper class (consisting primarily of landowners and merchants) ordering the construction of several multi-storied villas, many of which still stand today. In 1939,
2673-538: The Coptic Orthodox Church. A small group of Jehovah Witnesses are present in the area as well and others. During the annual "Saturday of Light" religious festival, which occurs on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday to celebrate the light that tradition holds shines forth from the tomb of Jesus , the scouts hold a parade through the city streets to receive the flame from Jerusalem. The flame
2772-592: The Detroit Race Course (DRC). From 1985, it ran only harness racing for Standardbred , and the track closed in 1998, when the large property was sold for redevelopment. The last race tracks operating in the state were Hazel Park Raceway , which closed in 2018, and Northville Downs, which closed in 2019. Among the immigrants attracted to Detroit for its industrial jobs in the 20th century have been Palestinian and Lebanese Christians, as well as Muslims. By 1985, Palestinian Christians had settled in Livonia, as well as
2871-524: The Haram al-Sharif , Jerusalem, to which it paid an annual tax of 350 Mids of grain. In 1883, the PEF 's Survey of Western Palestine described Ramallah as A large Christian village, of well-built stone houses, standing on a high ridge, with a view on the west extending to the sea. It stands amongst gardens and olive-yards, and has three springs to the south and one on the west; on the north there are three more, within
2970-545: The Intifada erupted, protesting against the continued Israeli occupation . Ramallah residents were among the early joiners of the First Intifada . The Intifada Unified Leadership, an umbrella organization of various Palestinian factions, distributed weekly bulletins on the streets of Ramallah with a schedule of the daily protests, strikes and action against Israeli patrols in the city. At the demonstrations, tires were burned in
3069-637: The Jerusalem Electric Company introduced electricity to Ramallah, and a majority of the city's homes became wired shortly thereafter. On the same year, the British Mandatory authorities inaugurated the state-owned Palestine Broadcasting Service in Ramallah, with BBC members training local radio staff to deliver daily broadcasts in Arabic , Hebrew , and English . The station was later renamed Jerusalem Calling . In 1936, an Arab revolt against
Tower International - Misplaced Pages Continue
3168-627: The Legislature of the Territory of Michigan on March 17, 1835. The settlers named the community "Livonia", after Livonia, New York , a town in the western part of the state, from where many had migrated. Livonia Township was split off from Nankin Township , in which a Livonia post office had been established in June 1834. During the days of the township, a number of small communities developed. One of these
3267-596: The Livonia Public Schools district, consisting of two early childhood centers, thirteen elementary schools, four upper elementary Schools, three middle schools and three high schools. The district also serves students in portions of Westland . A portion of northeast Livonia is served by the Clarenceville School District . There are currently four high schools in Livonia, all of which are public: Franklin , Churchill and Stevenson high schools in
3366-633: The Livonia Public Schools district; and Clarenceville High School in the Clarenceville Public School District . Ladywood High School, a Catholic all-girls private school run by the Felician Sisters , closed in 2018. Bentley High School , the first high school built in the district, closed in 1985. Each high school in the Livonia Public School District offers a different educational program. Stevenson High School
3465-547: The Mukataa and withdrew to the city outskirts. The newly established Palestinian Authority assumed civilian and security responsibility for the city, which was designated "Area A" under the accords. The years between 1993 and 2000 (known locally as the "Oslo Years") brought relative prosperity to Ramallah. Ramallah and its immediate environs were classified as Area A in the Oslo Accords , under full civil and security control of
3564-520: The Palestinian Authority (PA) administration in September 1995. Many expatriates returned to establish businesses there, and the atmosphere was one of optimism. In 2000, unemployment began to rise and the economy of Ramallah declined. The Israel Defense Forces remained in control of the territories and its government did not restore the freedom of movement enjoyed by Ramallah residents prior to
3663-562: The creation of the State of Israel and the ensuing conflict , Jordan seized the part of Palestine they named the West Bank. This included Ramallah. The West Bank was relatively peaceful during the years of Jordanian rule between 1948 and 1967, with its residents enjoying freedom of movement between the West Bank , Jordan, Lebanon , and Syria. Jordan annexed the West Bank, applying its national law to
3762-626: The de facto administrative capital of the State of Palestine . It is situated on the Judaean Mountains , 10 km (6 miles) north of Jerusalem , at an average elevation of 872 meters (2,861 ft) above sea level, adjacent to al-Bireh . Ramallah has buildings containing masonry from the period of Herod the Great , but no complete building predates the Crusades of the 11th century. The modern city
3861-649: The de facto capital of the Palestinian Authority, now officially known as the State of Palestine. It hosts almost all governmental headquarters. In December 2001, Arafat held meetings at the Mukataa, but lived with his wife and daughter in Gaza City . After suicide bombings in Haifa , Arafat was confined to the Ramallah compound. In 2002, the compound was partly demolished by the Israeli Defense Forces and Arafat's building
3960-405: The 15-seat municipal council for a four-year term. The council elected Janet Mikhail as mayor, the first woman to hold the post. Munir Hamdan, a member of Fatah and a Ramallah businessman, discussed the concentration of government offices with a journalist. He said, "The president and prime minister have their offices here. So do the parliament and all the government ministries", representing
4059-448: The 1995 Oslo Accords. The first and largest incursion was the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield , with a more recent intervention coming in March 2017 while attempting to arrest a suspected terrorist. In 2002, the army imposed curfews, electricity cuts, school closures and disruptions of commercial life. Many Ramallah institutions, including government ministries, were vandalized, and equipment
Tower International - Misplaced Pages Continue
4158-486: The British Mandate broke out in Palestine, and Ramallah soon became a center of insurgent activity. The rebels subsequently established a court near Ramallah, in order to provide legal alternatives to the courts of the British Mandate. One British schoolteacher noted that the Ramallah court judge began to produce "news sheets on typewriters and duplicators, aimed at publicizing the alternative rebel regime." Following
4257-713: The Catholic Holy Family Church was started. As of 2022 , Ramallah also has a Coptic Orthodox Church , an Evangelical Lutheran Church and an Episcopalian (Anglican) Church . In the 19th century, the Religious Society of Friends ( Quakers ) established a presence in Ramallah and built the Ramallah Friends Schools , one for girls and later a boys' school, to alleviate the dearth of education for women and girls. Eli and Sybil Jones opened "The Girls Training Home of Ramallah" in 1869. A medical clinic
4356-470: The Christians consisting of 2,162 Orthodox, 1 Syriac Orthodox (Jacobite), 332 Roman Catholics , 144 Greek Catholic ( Melkite Catholic ), 211 Church of England , and 122 "other". The population increased at the time of the 1931 census to 4,286 (3,766 Christians, 519 Muslims and one Jew) in a total of 1,014 houses. In the 1938 village statistics, the population is listed as 4,900. In the 1945 statistics ,
4455-523: The Intifada wound down and the peace process moved forward, normal life in Ramallah resumed. On September 13, 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat shook hands at a meeting at the White House . Schoolchildren in Ramallah handed out olive branches to Israeli soldiers patrolling the streets. In December 1995, in keeping with the Oslo Accords , the Israeli army abandoned
4554-556: The Israeli Human Rights activists, the development of Jewish settlements in the Ramallah area, such as Beit El and Psagot , prevented the expansion of the city and cut it off from the surrounding Arab villages. As resistance increased, Ramallah residents who were members of the Palestine Liberation Organization were jailed or deported to neighboring countries. In December 1987, the popular uprising known as
4653-498: The Japanese government. Ramallah hosted its first annual international film festival in 2004. Ramallah, like most Palestinian areas, has a rich folklore of song and dance. Songs accompanied people in every occasion, whether it was the harvest season, roofing a house, traveling, coming back from travel, engagement, wedding, or even death. Most of the songs were sung by the women with the exception of Zaffeh and Mal'ab , which are sung by
4752-730: The Middle School Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (MACAT) program. The public K-6 Webster Elementary School is home to the Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (ACAT) program, as well as many after-school programs. Webster also has classes for disabled children. In 2008, the original Webster school was burned down by an arsonist, and Webster was moved to a closed-down school, Tyler Elementary. St. Genevieve Catholic School closed in 2016. The Metro Detroit–area newspapers are
4851-405: The Palestinian Authority. The PIF have begun work on a $ 400 million commercial center comprising 13 towers which will be some of the tallest in Ramallah. The Ersal Commercial Center has drawn investment from a Saudi Arabian firm, The Land Holding, which has a 10% stake. It is not the only Gulf Arab firm investing in Ramallah and its outskirts. The Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company has
4950-631: The Palestinian National Authority , the Palestinian Legislative Council , and the headquarters of the Palestinian Security Services . It is also home to several museums and cultural centers, and has a notable nightlife scene. While historically a predominantly Christian town, Muslims constituted a majority of Ramallah's 38,998 residents by 2017, with Christians making up a significant minority. Ramallah
5049-447: The Palestinian government of Salam Fayyad has abandoned Jerusalem in favor of Ramallah." In November 2011, King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Ramallah for the first time since 2000. This area enjoys a Mediterranean climate of a dry summer and mild, rainy winter with occasional snowfall. The recorded average of Ramallah's rainfall is about 615 mm (24 in) and minimum rainfall is 307 mm (12 in) and maximum rainfall
SECTION 50
#17328801494635148-529: The Palestinian leadership to move the provisional capital back to Gaza, where it had been when the Palestinian Authority was first established in 1994. President Abbas, however, refrained from doing so, arguing that at this point, it was important to keep the administrative center in the West Bank in order to remind the international community that the West Bank was still awaiting a territorial solution. In December 2005, local elections were held in Ramallah in which candidates from three different factions competed for
5247-418: The Vest Pocket Library. Livonia's mayor is Maureen Miller Brosnan. The city is located in Michigan's 11th congressional district . Livonia is in Michigan's 7th State Senate District, and is represented by Dayna Polehanki (Democrat). Most of Livonia makes up Michigan's 19th State House District, which elected Laurie Pohutsky (Democrat) in 2018. A part of southeast Livonia is in the 11th district, which
5346-536: The anchor. The city previously featured two other malls which have since been dismantled. Wonderland Mall was the first, opening in 1959 and closing in 2003; it was replaced with a development called Wonderland Village , anchored by Walmart and Target . Livonia Mall was built to the north in 1964. It also closed in 2008 and was redeveloped as Livonia Marketplace , featuring a second Walmart, along with Sears and Kohl's . The Sears store closed in 2020. Other big-box stores are located near Laurel Park Place. Livonia
5445-423: The balance of Muslims and Christians began to change. In the 21st century, a large community of people with direct descent from the Haddadins who founded Ramallah live in the United States. The town is now predominately Muslim, but still contains a Christian minority. The change in demographics is due mostly to new migration of Muslims to the area, and emigration of Christians from the area. During World War I ,
5544-504: The census of 2010, there were 96,942 people, 38,714 households, and 26,856 families living in the city. The population density was 2,715.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,048.5/km ). There were 40,401 housing units at an average density of 1,131.7 per square mile (437.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.0% White , 3.4% African American , 0.2% Native American , 2.5% Asian , 0.4% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.5% of
5643-558: The census lost their residency rights. For residents of Ramallah, the situation had now been reversed. For the first time in 19 years, residents could freely visit Israel and the Gaza Strip and engage in commerce there. Unlike the Jordanians, Israel did not offer citizenship to the residents. Ramallah residents were issued permits to work in Israel, but did not gain the rights associated with Israeli citizenship. The city remained under Israeli military rule for more than four decades. The Israeli Civil Administration (CA), established in 1981,
5742-428: The city has a total area of 35.86 square miles (92.88 km ), of which 35.70 square miles (92.46 km ) is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km ) is water. The city has many creeks and rivers, but most notably majority portions of both Newburgh and Nankin Lake in the south and south-west. The two lakes are connected by both a river and Edward N. Hines Drive, known simply as Hines Drive by locals. According to
5841-482: The city, Mainly Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. The community settled in Livonia in the late 1960s and has since continued a steady growth. There were 38,089 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who
5940-439: The city. The population density was 2,815.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,086.9/km ). There were 38,658 housing units at an average density of 1,082.3 per square mile (417.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.45% White , 0.95% African American , 0.22% Native American , 1.94% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.32% from other races , and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.72% of
6039-491: The conquered territory. However, many Palestinians were jailed for being members of "illegal political parties", which included the Palestine Communist Party and other socialist and pro-independence groups. By 1953, Ramallah's population had doubled, but the economy and infrastructure could not accommodate the influx of poor villagers. Natives of Ramallah began to emigrate, primarily to the United States. By 1956, about one fourth of Ramallah's 6,000 natives had left, with Arabs from
SECTION 60
#17328801494636138-430: The early years of the 21st century, apartment buildings and "five-star" hotels were erected, particularly in the Al-Masyoun neighborhood. In 2010, "more than one hundred" Palestinian businesses were reported to have moved to Ramallah from East Jerusalem , because "Here they pay less taxes and have more customers." One local boasted to a journalist that "Ramallah is becoming the de facto capital of Palestine." This boast
6237-402: The few symbols of civil disobedience. The Intifada leadership organized "tree plantings" and resorted to the tactics used in pre-1948 Palestine, such as ordering general strikes in which no commercial businesses were allowed to open and no cars were allowed on the streets. In 1991, the Palestinian delegation to the Madrid International Peace Conference included many notables from Ramallah. As
6336-411: The field trace the origins of Palestinian costumes to ancient times, there are no surviving clothing artifacts from this early period against which the modern items might be definitively compared. Influences from the various empires to have ruled Palestine , such as Ancient Egypt , Ancient Rome , the Byzantine Empire , and Ayyubids , among others , have been documented by scholars largely based on
6435-500: The first Intifada. Travel to Jerusalem required special permits. The number and size of Israeli settlements around Ramallah increased dramatically. A network of bypass roads for use of Israeli citizens only was built around Ramallah, and Israel expropriated land for settlements. Many official documents previously handled by the Israeli Civil Administration were now handled by the Palestinian Authority but still required Israeli approval. A Palestinian passport issued to Ramallah residents
6534-423: The first steel frame which was invented by A.O. Smith. In the 1920s their first fully automatic frame line with adjustable riveting robots became known as a “Mechanical Marvel”. On October 15, 2010, Tower International common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange following the initial public offering (“IPO”). Tower International provides stampings, structures and assemblies. Integral components forming
6633-564: The headquarters for most international NGOs and embassies. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid flowing into the city have boosted Ramallah's economy greatly since the end of the Second Intifada . Ramallah's buoyant economy continues to draw Palestinians from other West Bank towns where jobs are fewer. The built-up area has grown fivefold since 2002. Construction boom is one of the most obvious signs of West Bank economic growth, estimated at an annual rate of 8 percent. This has been attributed to relative stability and Western donor support to
6732-422: The immediate coastal areas, where summers are milder due to the nearby presence of cold ocean currents that may bring fog but prevent rain. Ramallah is chief financial and commercial center for the Palestinian Authority, home to the country's numerous financial institutions. Currently Ramallah is seat of power of the Palestinian Authority , whose most of the offices are located within the city. The city serves as
6831-449: The late 20th century from 24,722 inhabitants in 1987 to 17,851 in 1997. In the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) census in 1997, Palestinian refugees accounted for 60.3% of the population, which was 17,851. There were 8,622 males and 9,229 females. People younger than 20 years of age made up 45.9% of the population, while those aged between 20 and 64 were 45.4%, and residents aged over 64 constituted 4.7%. Only in 2005 did
6930-405: The manufacturing operations through six engineering and sales locations around the world. Tower International was formed in 1993, however many of the engineering and manufacturing operations date back further. A.O. Smith Automotive Products Company, which was acquired by Tower International in 1997, has roots dating back to the early days of the automotive industry. The 1903 Cadillac was produced on
7029-424: The marches were replaced by sporadic use of live ammunition against Israeli soldiers; and various attacks targeting Jewish settlers, particularly on the Israeli-only bypass roads. Army checkpoints were established to restrict movement in and out of Ramallah. On October 12, 2000, two Israeli army reservists, Vadim Norzhich and Yosef Avrahami were lynched in Ramallah . They had taken a wrong turn, and were set upon by
7128-590: The men at wedding celebrations. Palestinian educator Bahia Khalil's book "Ramallah Folklore Songs and Traditions" documents to a great extent this oral tradition inherited from one generation to another. The second edition of the book was published in 2002 by the American Federation of Ramallah, Palestine, an organization for Palestinian-Americans from the Ramallah region living in the US. Foreign travelers to Palestine in late-19th and early-20th centuries often commented on
7227-595: The population reach more than 24,000. In a PCBS projection in 2006, Ramallah had a population of 25,467 inhabitants. In the 2007 PCBS census, there were 27,460 people living in the city. Sources vary about the current Christian population in the city, ranging around 25%. In the aftermath of the 1936–1939 Arab revolt, the Ramallah Hospital Foundation was established and registered as a tax exempt organization in New York in 1944. It bought large pieces of land in
7326-420: The population stood at 5,080, with Christians forming the majority of the population (4,440 Christians and 640 Muslims). However, the demographic makeup of the town changed drastically between 1948 and 1967, when considerable emigration of Christians took place. Slightly more than half of the city's 12,134 inhabitants were Christian by 1967, the other half Muslim. Ramallah's population drastically decreased in
7425-445: The population. There were 38,714 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.6% were non-families. Of all households 26.7% were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
7524-500: The population. 16.3% were of Polish , 15.9% German , 11.2% Irish , 8.6% Italian and 8.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000 . Livonia has a substantial Middle Eastern population, mostly Arab , and trace their ancestry to the Levant region, mainly from Syria , Jordan , Palestine , and Lebanon , and are of the Christian faith . The Arab-American community has few churches in
7623-676: The region. In 1700, Yacoub Elias was the first Ramallah native to be ordained by the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, the Christian denomination that prevailed in the Holy Land at the time. In the early 19th century, the first Jerusalemite Greek Orthodox Christian church was built. Later, in 1852, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration , was built to replace it; it is the sole Eastern Orthodox Church in Ramallah today. There
7722-504: The reign of Herod the Great (37–4 BCE). Potsherds from the Crusader / Ayyubid and early Ottoman period have also been found there. Ramallah has been identified with the Crusader place called Ramalie . Remains of a building with an arched doorway from the Crusader era, called al-Burj , have been identified, but the original use of the building is undetermined. The area of Ramallah
7821-414: The rest Orthodox Greeks. Ramallah was declared a modern city in 1908. It had an elected municipality as well as partnership projects with the adjacent town of al-Bireh . The Friends Boys School became a temporary hospital during World War I. Ramallah grew dramatically throughout the 17th and 18th centuries as an agricultural village, attracting more (predominantly Christian) inhabitants from all around
7920-517: The rich variety of costumes among the Palestinian people, and particularly among the fellaheen or village women. Until the 1940s, a woman's economic status, whether married or single, and the town or area they were from could be deciphered by most Palestinian women by the type of cloth, colors, cut, and embroidery motifs, or lack thereof, used for the robe-like dress or "thoub" in Arabic. Though experts in
8019-619: The south-eastern fringes of the city dedicated for the future hospital. In 1963, a hospital was opened. The present Ramallah Government Hospital and the Palestine Medical Centered are located on the land purchased by the Foundation. In January 1987, the first open-heart surgery was performed at the Hospital under the direction of Dr. Shehadeh (Shawki) Harb, a Palestinian surgeon trained in the United States. The Jamal Abdel Nasser Mosque
8118-498: The street, and the crowds threw stones and Molotov cocktails . The IDF responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Schools in Ramallah were forcibly shut down, and opened gradually for a few hours a day. The Israelis conducted house arrests, imposing curfews that restricted travel and exports in what Palestinians regarded as collective punishment. In response to the closure of schools, residents organized home schooling sessions to help students make up missed material; this became one of
8217-466: The surrounding towns and villages (particularly Hebron ) buying the homes and land the émigrés left behind. During the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel captured Ramallah from Jordan, imposing a military closure and conducting a census a few weeks later. Every person registered in the census was given an Israeli identity card which allowed the bearer to continue to reside there. Those who were abroad during
8316-530: The upper-body structure of the vehicle. Large stampings which require flawless surface finishes. Products forming the basic lower-body structure of the vehicle. Complex assemblies representing major portions of a vehicle's body structure. Manufacturing of metal structures for other industries. Tower is headquartered in Livonia, Michigan. The 23 production facilities are supported by 6 engineering and sales locations. Livonia, Michigan Livonia ( / l ə ˈ v oʊ n j ə / lə- VOHN -yə )
8415-502: The western suburbs of Farmington and Westland. As of 2005, there were a number of Christian Palestinian Americans who had immigrated from Ramallah . They have developed and operated several small- and medium-sized businesses. Six U.S. presidents have visited Livonia: Richard Nixon , Gerald Ford , Ronald Reagan , George H. W. Bush , Bill Clinton and George W. Bush . According to the United States Census Bureau ,
8514-449: Was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 31.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 100,545 people, 38,089 households, and 28,071 families living in
8613-469: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% was from 25 to 44, 24.3% was from 45 to 64, and 16.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males. As of 2000, Livonia
8712-487: Was Elmwood, initially known as McKinley's Station. It was a stop on the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad . It had a separate post office from 1858 until 1906. Another post office in the township was Giltedge, which operated from 1899 until 1902. Livonia was incorporated as a city on May 23, 1950, by vote of the citizens of the township . An incentive was that this status would allow the residents to gain tax revenues from
8811-602: Was cut off from the rest of the compound. On November 11, 2004, Arafat died at the Percy training hospital of the Armies near Paris. He was buried in the courtyard of the Mukataa on November 12, 2004. The site still serves as the Ramallah headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, as well the official West Bank office of Mahmoud Abbas . Throughout 2005, while the Disengagement Plan was underway, some US government officials suggested to
8910-535: Was destroyed or stolen. The IDF took over local Ramallah television stations, and social and economic conditions deteriorated. Many expatriates left, as did many other Palestinians who complained that the living conditions had become intolerable. Construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier has added to Ramallah's isolation. Yasser Arafat established his West Bank headquarters, the Mukataa , in Ramallah. Although considered an interim solution, Ramallah became
9009-509: Was established in 1883, with Dr. George Hassenauer serving as the first doctor in Ramallah. In 1889, the girls academy became the Friends Girls School (FGS). As the FGS was also a boarding school, it attracted a number of girls from surrounding communities, including Jerusalem, Lydda , Jaffa , and Beirut . The Friends Boys School (FBS) was founded in 1901 and opened in 1918. The Quakers opened
9108-588: Was founded during the 16th century by the Hadadeens, an Arab Christian clan descended from Ghassanids . In 1517, the city was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire , and in 1920, it became part of British Mandatory Palestine after it was captured by the United Kingdom during World War I . The 1948 Arab–Israeli War saw the entire West Bank, including Ramallah, occupied and annexed by Transjordan . Ramallah
9207-518: Was founded in the 16th century by the Hadadeens , an Arab Christian clan. The city boasts archaeological remnants from earlier epochs. Ancient rock-cut tombs have been found near Ramallah. Located just south of the built-up area is Tell en-Nasbeh , an archeological site where biblical Mizpah in Benjamin is likely to have been located. Several Ramallah buildings incorporate masonry dating back to
9306-420: Was in charge of civilian and day-to-day services such as issuing permission to travel, build, export or import, and host relatives from abroad. The CA reprinted Jordanian textbooks for distribution in schools but did not update them. The CA was in charge of tax collection and land expropriation, which sometimes included Israeli seizure of olive groves that Arab villagers had tended for generations. According to
9405-542: Was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire in 1517 with all of Palestine . Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-1500s by the Haddadins (also: Haddad ee n), a clan of brothers descended from Ghassanid Christians . The Haddadins (ancestors of the present-day Jadallah family, among others), and their leader Rashid el-Haddadin, arrived from east of the Jordan River from the areas of Karak and Shoubak . The Haddadin migration
9504-509: Was later captured by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War . Since the 1995 Oslo Accords , Ramallah has been governed by the PNA ( Palestinian National Authority ) as part of Area A of the West Bank . In recent years, Ramallah has emerged as a key political, cultural, and economic center. It houses various Palestinian governmental bodies, including the Mukataa , the official residence of the President of
9603-560: Was not valid unless the serial number was registered with the Israeli authorities, who controlled border crossings. The failure of the Camp David summit in July 2000 led to the outbreak of the Second Intifada (al-Aqsa Intifada) in September 2000. Young Ramallah residents demonstrated daily against the Israeli army, with marches to the Israeli checkpoints at the outskirts of the city. Over time,
9702-523: Was seconded by The New York Times which, in 2010, called Ramallah the "de facto capital of the West Bank. According to Sani Meo , the publisher of This Week in Palestine , "Capital or no capital, Ramallah has done well and Palestine is proud of its achievements." Some Palestinians allege that Ramallah's prosperity is part of an Israeli "conspiracy" to make Ramallah the capital of a Palestinian state , instead of Jerusalem . An Ottoman village list of about 1870 showed that Ramallah had 249 houses and
9801-482: Was the city in the United States with over 100,000 people that had the highest percentage of non-Hispanic white people. In addition to its schools, colleges, churches, parks, recreation center, libraries and the St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia also has commercial and industrial sectors, restaurants and retail stores . Laurel Park Place , an upscale fashion mall with 74 stores, was built in 1989 at 6 Mile Road and Newburgh Road. Von Maur department store serve as
#462537