Abu Ghosh, a large Arabic village, previously known as "Kiryat Al-Anav", neighbors the main thoroughfare to Jerusalem. The village was originally established on the site of the biblical town of Kiryat-Ya'arim. During the Byzantine period a church was constructed on the site, but was eventually destroyed during the Persian invasion in 614. A church and monastery were subsequengly built on the remains. During the Independence Day war the monastery was temporarily used as a hospital for the Harel Brigade. In the Roman period, a fortress and camp were built near the spring at the lower end of the village. The church, after being destroyed and rebuilt several times, was eventually restored by Napolean III in 1875. Today, the village is named after the family that settled here during the 16th century, most likely of Mameluke origin (Cherkesim from Kafkaz). The past few generations of villagers have developed a friendly and close relationship with the neighboring Jewish inhabitants.