Hebron, known as al-Khalil in Arabic, is the largest city in the West Bank and the second largest in Palestine. It’s important to Muslims, Jews, and Christians for its association with Abraham, and is the second holiest city in Judaism.
Hebron is also the prime example of Israeli apartheid. Since 1997, the city has been divided into two sectors, H1 and H2, under the Hebron Protocol. 80% of the city makes up H1, which is under Palestinian control. The other 20%, H2, is under Israeli control, but maintains a Palestinian majority.
Hebron Dual Narrative Tour
We visited the city on a guided tour from Jerusalem. The Hebron Dual Narrative Tour, offered by Abraham Tours, runs every Wednesday and Sunday. The entire tour takes place in H2. Visitors spend the morning with an Israeli guide in Israeli settlements and the afternoon in the Old City with a Palestinian guide. The tour starts at ₪430 per person (as of June 2023).
The Hebron Dual Narrative Tour is one of the most eye-opening tours I have ever taken. It’s very political but you get to hear both sides of the story to make up your own mind. I would definitely take this tour again, especially because the day we visited was a Jewish holiday so the tour had to be altered quite a bit.
The following posts are in chronological order of our visit:
- Tomb of the Patriarchs
- Wholesale Market
- Avraham Avinu
- Al-Shuhada Street
- Beit Hadassah
- Tel Rumeida
- Old City: Palestinian Area
