Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The tomb of the great patriarch Abraham, venerated by both Jews and Muslims, is shared
by a synagogue and a mosque—and split by a pane of bulletproof glass.
Hebron is the place where I feel the most tension in the West Bank. Jews expect
access, as do Muslims—and, with a history of massacres on both sides, any trust is
fragile. Palestinians can do little but annoy the huge number of Israeli soldiers stationed
here—and vice versa. During my visit, I noticed that they were putting down extra carpets
in the mosque. When I asked why, I was told that they expected an inspection by Israeli
soldiers, and they didn't know if the soldiers would remove their boots before entering.
