Day 9: Hebron

Today we headed to Hebron. Our first stop was to the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee, where we learned about how Hebron is divided into two separate areas, H1 and H2. Following this introduction, campers walked through the Old City’s Market en route to the Ibrahimi Mosque (Tomb of the Patriarchs). Campers experienced the different checkpoints throughout the old city, and at the entrance of the mosque. They also saw how the mosque was divided after the 1994 Massacre. After our visit to the mosque, we visited Al Tkiyya Al Ibrahimiye, a charitable kitchen that was founded in 1279 A.D, with the purpose of providing food for the marginalized families of Hebron.

We continued our tour of Hebron by going to Al Shuhada Street. On the way, campers witnessed the nets visible on top of the paths and roadways of the Old City, put up by shopkeepers to protect them from settlers who throw rocks, bottles, and trash at them and even spit at them. When we got to Al Shuhadah Street, campers witnessed how a vibrant market was turned into a ghost town. We were greeted by a local family, who allowed us to visit with them and see how hard their life is in this part of Hebron.

After the Old City tour culmination, we hopped on the bus to visit the Governor of Hebron, who welcomed us to a much appreciated feast of Hebronite food, Qidreh. We finished our trip to Hebron with quick visits to the Kuffiyeh and Glass Blowing factories.