Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Synagogue, a Mosque, and Bulletproof Glass: Jews and
Muslims Sharing Abraham in Hebron
Hebron is the West Bank's biggest city (with over 685,000 people), and is also home to one
of the holiest sites in the Holy Land: The Tomb of Abraham, revered by Jews, Muslims,
and Christians. According to scripture, Abraham had one son by his wife, Sarah (Isaac, the
ancestor of the Israelis), and another son by their Egyptian servant, Hagar (Ismael, from
whom the Arabs are descended). That's why both Jews and Muslims come to the Tomb
of Abraham to be close to their great patriarch. While this confluence could have been an
opportunity for unity and cooperation, instead it has turned the tomb into a divisive place
with an uptight aura.
Hebron, the biggest city in the West Bank, is a jostle of activity.
The Tomb of Abraham stands right in the center of town, where Israeli troops are pos-
ted in the name of security. In the surrounding streets, Jews live literally atop Muslims as
the two communities struggle to be near the shrine of their common patriarch. While the
city is mostly Palestinian, a determined and well-protected community of several hundred
Israeli settlers has staked out the high ground. The tension between the communities is
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