It was a clear mellow winter’s day when the group of six Israelis Jews, five women and one man, made their way to Palestinian side of Hebron (Al-Khalil). An all male group of Palestinians hospitably greeted them at the entrance. And thus unfolded what was a slice of history. Since the outbreak of the second intifadah in 2001, an Israeli group was entering Palestinian side of Hebron for the first time!

Hebron (Al-Khalil) is the second most sacred site in the region after Jerusalem. Home to the tombs of Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him) and his wife and son, this is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. Both communities claim their heritage from Ibrahim (Peace be Upon Him) – one through his son Isaac and the other through his son Ismail.

Hebron arouses deep passions in Muslims and Jews alike. In May 1980, a group of Palestinians murdered six Jewish students and wounded 20 others. In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, a Jew, opened fire on unarmed Palestinians, gathered for Friday prayers in the Haram. A few minutes later, Israeli guards fired at fleeing Palestinians, thinking a riot had broken out. Twenty-nine Palestinians lost their lives while others beat Goldstein to death.

The Cave of Patriarchs, or Al Haram al Ibrahimi, is of the many scared sites for Muslim and Jews in Al-Khalil or Hebron. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

Soltov moderates an ‘interfaith encounter’ in Palestinian side of Al-Khalil last year when the first Israeli group was given permission to visit this part. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

In sync with traditional Arab hospitality, Palestinians lead and escort their Jewish guests through the bazaar or souq to the sacred Ibrahimic sites. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

No tourism can be complete without some real shopping and lots of window shopping. The group members exactly engage in both in this market. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

Netta Hazan negotiates with Israeli soldier at the entrance to Cave of Patriarchs, which was denied for security reasons. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

The Israeli permission document shows names of group members with other details for entry in Al-Khalil or Hebron.– Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

The group strolls in Al-Khalil street near the Ibrahmic sites of historic and religious significance. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

The Cave of Patriarchs, or Al Haram al Ibrahimi, is of the many scared sites for Muslim and Jews in Al-Khalil or Hebron. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

Soltov moderates an ‘interfaith encounter’ in Palestinian side of Al-Khalil last year when the first Israeli group was given permission to visit this part. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

In sync with traditional Arab hospitality, Palestinians lead and escort their Jewish guests through the bazaar or souq to the sacred Ibrahimic sites. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

No tourism can be complete without some real shopping and lots of window shopping. The group members exactly engage in both in this market. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

Netta Hazan negotiates with Israeli soldier at the entrance to Cave of Patriarchs, which was denied for security reasons. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

The Israeli permission document shows names of group members with other details for entry in Al-Khalil or Hebron.– Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

The group strolls in Al-Khalil street near the Ibrahmic sites of historic and religious significance. – Photo by Aditi Bhaduri

Under the Oslo Accords, Hebron became the only city in the West Bank to be divided — one part under the control of the Palestinian Authority and the other under Israeli control. Jews and Palestinians were banned from visiting the other side.

Despite such past experiences, this unique trip of Israeli group could be possible due to untiring effort of a Jewish scholar, Yehuda Stolov, who is director at the Interfaith Encounter Association
(IEA). Over the years, the IEA worked with over 6000 people of different faiths to foster understanding based on commonalities of religious thought.
Such ‘encounters’, explains Stolov, “are broader than traditional interfaith dialogue, because the primary goal is encouraging exchange between participants.”

In Hebron, the group toured the old city with the Palestinian counterparts. Much of the old city comprising about 500 settlers, the market and the Cave of the Patriarchs, sits adjacent to Jewish Hebron.

Despite Thursday being a working day, the market wore the look of a haunted place. The visitors learnt that most shop-owners had moved out due to Israeli violence while a few Palestinians continued their business. Graffiti on the walls slandered Arabs, and many of the lanes had rubbish dumped. Remarkably, there was no anger, no feelings of recrimination amongst the Palestinians for their guests and friends.

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