Al-Qlaiaah


Al-Qlaiaah is a municipality in the Marjayoun District in southern Lebanon. The inhabitants are mainly Maronite Christians.

Etymology

According to E. H. Palmer, the name means "the little castle".

History

In 1838, Eli Smith noted Al-Qlaiaah's population as Maronite.
In 1870 Victor Guérin found the village to have 400 Maronite inhabitants.
In 1881, the PEF's Survey of Western Palestine (SWP) described it: "A village, built of stone, containing about 150 Christians; it contains a church, and is situated on a ridge, with vineyards, olives, figs, and arable land around; it has a birket and spring near." Note that a birket is a pool of water.

Demographics

In 2014 Christians made up 98.81% of registered voters in Al-Qlaiaah. 92.40% of the voters were Maronite Catholics.