8 Things You Must Do in Palestine in 2020: For all visitors to Palestine, including internationals traveling to volunteer, intern or study with the Excellence Center in Hebron, Palestine an informative and indeed memorable journey awaits.
All who visit the West Bank will be greeted daily with opportunities to meet locals and leaders, travel to distinct locales, and learn of a historic culture.
There are, however, several key experiences that every visitor to Palestine and the West Bank should include in their time here – lessons of discovery that are defining of Palestinian culture, identity, and history.
1. Museums and Cultural Sites
As something of a cultural hub of the West Bank, Ramallah is a great place to find things to do in Palestine. Home to many different educational and artistic institutions, Ramallah also features notable museums including the Yasser Arafat Museum and the Mahmoud Darwish Museum.
While there are many articles and historical texts that can give a good overview of Palestinian history, these institutions present the story of Palestine in an interactive and immersive way.
2. Al-Ibrahimi Mosque
For all coming to Hebron, a visit to the Tomb of the Patriarchs / Al-Ibrahimi Mosque is perhaps first in the priorities of what to do in this historic city. As the fourth holiest site in Islam, believers gather to pray and commune in a most beautiful setting.
Said to be the burial site of the three patriarchal/matriarchal couples of the Abrahamic faiths – Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah – the venerated holy site should be visited by all spending time in the West Bank.
3. Hikes
Volunteers, visitors and students staying with the Excellence Center in Hebron will often be invited on grand hiking tours and adventures through the region. As an example, a recent day trip to Wadi Qelt – an epic canyon stretch connecting the edges of Jerusalem in the West to the city of Jericho in the East – left EC volunteers Hannah from the UK and Chris from the USA with many stories to tell and memories to share.
Another excursion to Deir Ghassaneh, the Blue Valley trail and the ancient monastery there afforded another memorable adventure for the EC volunteers. Other such excursions may include Mar Saba or the Dead Sea. Any one of the above will prove a remarkable trek for all spending time in this ancient land. As Hannah noted of her rich experience at Deir Ghassaneh, “The people were funny and friendly, and the valley was beautiful.”
4. Local Community Events
In addition to the above hikes and cultural activities, many who visit Palestine will be offered – and should accept – invitations to join family and community members for celebration and sharing. One such overture brought volunteers to a reunion of sorts, as the prominent Hebron family, Hijazi welcomed a distinguished patriarch from Dubai.
After the procession with the honoree shaking hands with all, including the invited Excellence Center team, all gathered around for the meal of celebration. “The variety of dishes was remarkable,” says Charlie from the UK, an EC volunteer in attendance. “A truly sumptuous banquet.”
5. Bethlehem in Contrast: the Nativity and the Wall
Another must-do while visiting Palestine is a trip to Bethlehem to take in the unique mixture of religious reverence and modern-day rebellion. From the long cue at the Church of the Nativity to The Banksy Walled off Hotel and the protest art it adjoins, Bethlehem offers perhaps the widest set of cultural contrasts in the region. A must-see for sites themselves as well as the contrast they represent.
6. Witness the Occupation
For all visiting Palestine from abroad who are intrested in the 8 Things, You Must Do in Palestine in 2020, including those volunteering and interning at the Excellence Center in Hebron, one of the musts to do is to witness the reality of the political climate and contention. Simply take a look around.
From the checkpoints outside Jerusalem to the militarized entries at H1/H2 to the guard towers and military bases strewn throughout, the reality of division and its administration literally rises all around you. For those who do spend time in the West Bank, the shared sentiment is mutual: Western media fails to paint an accurate picture. All who visit Palestine should take the opportunity to see the truth.
7. Talk to the People
The people of the West Bank are renowned for their hospitality, humor, and grace. All who visit Palestine, including those to the EC, should take opportunities for one on one interaction with these genial souls. Volunteer Chris from the USA met one in his first days at the Center.
An affable local named Ahmad introduced himself on the street, asked (with genuine interest) about Chris’ time in Hebron, spoke with pride of his five children, and finally extended an open invitation for Chris to join him and his family some time for coffee and shisha, at his home just up the hill. “Ask for Ahmad, my friend.”
8. Tell the World
For those who visit Palestine, not all must-do activities need be done on the ground in the West Bank. In fact, once such visitors, including volunteers and interns with the EC, return to their home countries, they should continue to share their memories and observances of their time in this historic place.
The story of Palestine is a story of people with a decided history of honor and grace. If the media is incomplete in this representation, those travelers with intimate and accurate experience should help to convey it upon their return. We hope you enjoyed reading the 8 Things You Must Do in Palestine in 2020. We would be happy to have you in Palestine
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