A 330 km trip on the Ibrahim Hebron track .. Thousands of tourists march from northern Palestine to its south

Unlike the marches and demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinians that coincide with certain events, such as planting olive trees in February and harvesting them in October, thousands of tourists visit Jesus’s birthplace, peace be upon him, every year, which is the busiest season during the Christmas season of the winter. , On a long journey from north to south of Palestine.

In spite of the turmoil and complicated political conditions, thousands of tourists embark every year on the "Ibrahim Al-Khalil Path" trip through the free walkway that stretches 330 km, and was chosen by the "National Geographic Traveler" in 2014 as the best hiking trail in the world.

Domestic and international tourists travel collectively or independently with guides, passing through more than fifty Palestinian communities, including Muslim, Christian or mixed villages, and many of them have the possibility to stay in the homes of Palestinian families hosting them along the path that runs through five areas: Jenin, Nablus and Jericho Bethlehem and Hebron.

The track consists of relatively short walking trips of ten to twenty kilometers, and passes through footpaths, dirt and old roads, and paths for herders, and even paved roads used by locals or farmers and nomads in areas where pedestrians who also use maps and GPS to reach their final destination.

Christmas in Palestine is a season of neighborly relations between different societies, a period in which stories of ancestors are told, says Dorina Maria Buda, a professor of tourism management at Britain's Leeds Beckett University.

She adds that during the first week of December, most Palestinian cities ignited the Christmas tree collectively, while local bands and choirs were playing to encourage international tourists to participate.

"Since September 2019, I have been searching for tourism in the Palestinian West Bank, and I am trying to understand how people celebrate their ancient heritage amid recent tensions and conflicts," she continues in the article published by the website.

"This is my second birthday in the area, and in both cases I had the opportunity to stay with a local family in the city of Beit Sahour," which is a small Palestinian town known to Christians as the town of Shepherds and is part of the Bethlehem area.

Three birthdays
Only a few visitors know that there are three Christian birthdays celebrated in Palestine, according to Maria Buda, as Latin Churches - which include Catholic Christians - recognize December 25 as their birth day.

But the Greek Orthodox Church - which represents the majority of Christians in Palestine and the Occupied Territories - celebrates Christmas according to the ancient Julian calendar established during the reign of Julius Caesar in 45 BC, and for them, Christmas falls on January 7 of each year.

Meanwhile, the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrates Christmas and Epiphany together on January 19.

This year the weather is still relatively warm, allowing visitors to explore the beautiful Palestinian landscapes, and to walk long distances in the Battir Hills between Bethlehem and Jerusalem, where charming views of the valleys and hills can be enjoyed.

Christmas markets are very popular, and for children there is a traditional practice of decorating barbara - a Palestinian dessert - at the Bethlehem Peace Center, to celebrate St. Barbara on December 4, according to an article by the British writer.

Although unrest erupted in the wake of US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017, and the rate of cancellation of reservations in that month reached about 80%; tourism in Palestine began to recover in 2018, and the mayor of Bethlehem Anton Salman said that the city was sending a message Insistence on sticking to the celebration of Christmas, despite the practices of the Israeli occupation.

Salman added to Anatolia that Bethlehem is a safe city, and its message is a message of peace, expressing his hope that the celebration of Christmas will bring joy and grace to the Palestinian people and achieve its independence.

Non-stop path
On its site, the "Ibrahim Al-Khalil Path" Foundation sets a plan for the itinerant tourists who want to cut the path of Hebron Ibrahim without stopping, starting by wandering through the northern olive groves, passing through the Ottoman palaces of the town of Araba, the valleys and olive trees, and climbing the hill of Sanur Castle, before passing through Nablus and its markets, as well as the Jordan Valley.

The route includes wandering from one village to another, seeing the amazing valleys and the road to Jericho, which is one of the oldest cities in the world, then hill the moon to see the moon and observe the stars.

The path passes through the Nut Valley, which is full of caves inhabited by the Byzantine monks, and included world heritage sites, the ancient city of Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity, and the enjoyment of Bedouin hospitality and views of the Dead Sea and grape groves in the village of Bani Naim, before hiking in the streets of ancient neighborhoods and its Mamluk and Ottoman architecture on the way to Hebron .