ṭayyiba, Al-

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ṬAYYIBA, AL-

ṬAYYIBA, AL- , Muslim-Arab community, with municipal council status in central Israel, bordering on the Samarian hills. Al-Ṭayyiba, the largest village of the "Little Triangle" was included in Israel's borders following the armistice agreement with Jordan in 1949. It quickly expanded, reaching a population of 10,000 in 1968 and 30,400 in 2002, with an area of 7.3 sq. mi. (19 sq. km.). It received municipal status in 1990. Its farming progressed considerably, consisting mainly of field crops, vegetables, and fruit orchards. It also had a number of small industrial enterprises, mainly in the food and agricultural service branches. The site is possibly identical with a village Tivata (טִיבָתָא), mentioned in the Talmud (tj, Dem. 2:1, 22c).

[Efraim Orni]