Travel Guide Naplouse

The second largest city in the West Bank after Hebron, Nablus is under the control of the Palestinian Authority. The Arabic name Nablous comes from the Greek Neapolis, the "new city", the name given to it by Titus, its founder in 72 AD. Israelis call it Shchem, after the city where, according to the Bible, the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob stayed. Beautifully situated between the Gerizim and Ebal mountains, it is renowned for its olive oil and soap production.Once known as "Little Damascus" because of the beauty of its old town with its 4,500-year-old foundations, Nablus has been deeply affected by the Second Intifada (which began in 2000) and the measures taken by the Israeli government in its wake. Restrictions on the movement of people and goods, as well as closures, are frequent, and the Israeli army controls all access from the checkpoints that surround the city. In Nablus, old stones live side by side with weapons. And yet, with its arches, old stones and narrow streets, Nablus would, once restored, be one of the pearls of the Mediterranean.The old town of Nablus is a labyrinth of lively alleyways. In the souk, fruit, vegetables, pastries and a whole artillery of trinkets, multicolored fabrics and electronic instruments mingle on the stalls... Children run through the streets, against a backdrop of walls emblazoned with martyrdom posters. Although heavily damaged by the Israeli army, the old town still boasts many historic buildings. The Nablus skyline features no fewer than thirty minarets, one of the most impressive of which is the Al-Nasr mosque.Find out about the security situation before you go: since the early 2020s, a new, latent Intifada has been underway in the city. Many of the city's young Palestinians had joined the armed "Lions" group, in open warfare with Israeli forces, before giving up their weapons in 2022, but tensions remain. Thus, in February 2023, the town was hit by a fatal Israeli army raid, which left more than 10 people dead and a hundred wounded, the heaviest toll since the Second Intifada (2001-2005). Again in July 2023, Israeli raids in the city caused the death of three Palestinians: at the time of writing, we therefore recommend that you do not travel to Nablus until hostilities have subsided.