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Hebron
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|  Al-Khalil,
as Hebron is called in Arabic, means "The Friend of God".
In ancient times it was known as Mamre and Kirjath Arba, "The
town of four" because of its position on four hills. Situated
at an altitude of 3,000 feet, Hebron has been continuously
settled for at least 5,000 years. It is regarded as holy by
Muslims, Jews and Christians alike because the Patriarch Abraham
is buried there.
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• Old Town Of Hebron
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The
Old Town of Hebron is one of the oldest towns in Palestine.
The market, or Souq , with its arched roofs and maze of alleys
is definitely worth exploring. The shops and stalls sell everything
from pottery, olivewood, blown glass, and a wide array of
aromatic spices and dried fruits.
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• Hebron Today
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Modern Hebron is the chief town of the southern half of the
West Bank, with a population of around 40,000 and a souq,
the commercial center for traders from fifty or so
surrounding villages. It is also the largest industrial
center in the West Bank. The grapes produced in Hebron are
converted into jam and a kind of molasses; dozens of
quarries export stone and marble to Arab countries and sell
to the building trade in Israel and the West Bank; and the
traditional crafts of glass, pottery-making and tanning have
been adapted to factory production. There are also a lot of
plastics, leather, furniture, and shoe-making workshops.
Dhahriyyeh.
Named after the thirteenth century Sultan ad-Dhaher Baybars, the leader who finally drove the Crusaders out of Palestine. The Wednesday morning livestock market here is still a genuinely functional part of the economic lives of local villagers and a fascinating slice of traditional life.
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• Al-Haram al-Ibrahimi
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Al-Haram is
a formidable rectangular building, which looks like a fortress.
The construction of the walls and pavement is the work of King
Herod. Inside, a vaulted Crusader church has been turned into
a mosque housing the tomb of the prophets and their wives.
Inside the mosque is the Mihrab, made of multi-colored marble and fine mosaics. The carved walnut Minbar, or pulpit next to it is a masterpiece of intricate workmanship. Another fine pulpit brought by Salah ad-Din from Egypt, stands near the praying alcove. Additional Crusader and Mamluk structures combine to make al-Haram one of the most impressive ancient monuments in Palestine. There are six tombs in the Mosque of Abraham, which are said to stand directly above the graves of the prophets and their wives buried in the Cave of el-Anbia.
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• Oak Of Abraham
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An oak tree 2 km west of Hebron marks the legendary site where
Abraham pitched his tent. Excavations in 1926-28 revealed
a Herodian enclosure with a well in its southwestern corner.
Until recently, pilgrims used to peel pieces of the trunk
for good luck. Now, however, the Russian Orthodox Church who
owns the site and the nearby monastery has wrapped the trunk
with steel braces for protection.
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• Halhoul
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A beautiful and fertile village, Halhoul lies 5 km North of
Hebron. Abundant vineyards dot the area, producing Hebron's
renowned grapes. The Mosque of Nabi Yunis lies just outside
the town. According to Muslim tradition, the mosque was built
over the grave of the Prophet Jonah.
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• Archeological Museum
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Located next to Hamam Abuna Ibrahim in the old town of Hebron,
the museum contains a small collection of archeological findings
from the Canaanite to the Islamic period.
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• Dhahriyyeh
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Named after the thirteenth century Sultan
ad-Dhaher Baybars, the leader who finally drove the Crusaders
out of Palestine. The Wednesday morning livestock market here
is still a genuinely functional part of the economic lives
of local villagers and a fascinating slice of traditional
life.
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