al-Bireh, al-Birah or el-Bira (Arabic: البيرة‎) is a Palestinian city adjacent to Ramallah in the central West Bank, 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) north of Jerusalem. It is situated on the central ridge running through the West Bank and is 860 meters (2,820 ft) above sea level, covering an area of 22.4 square kilometers (8.6 sq mi).Because of its location al-Bireh served as an economic crossroad between the north and south, along the caravan route between Jerusalem and Nablus.