The city is situated on a hill. The city name Binnish is mentioned in the Tablets of Ebla 2400 BC.[2] The city is famous for olive, vine and fig trees besides its varied crops of all kinds. It has a big old mosque right at the center which dates back to the Mamluk period (1250–1517) before the Ottomans. It has mild weather and hospitable people. Generally speaking, the people there are from all walks of life. The illiteracy rate is low compared to how it was 30 years ago.[citation needed]