PALESTINE: Ramallah The Commercial, Cultural Capital Of Palestine, Where Alcohol Flows Freely

Ramallah is a small city with a population of approximately 57,000 in the Palestinian Territories, located within the West Bank region, some 15 km (10 miles) north of Jerusalem.

Since the inception of the Palestinian National Authority, Ramallah has acted as the de facto capital city of the Palestinian administration and commercial capital.

Modern Ramallah was founded in the mid-16th century by the Haddadins, a Jordanian tribe of brothers descended from Ghassanid Christian Arabs. The Haddadins, led by Rashid Haddadin, arrived from east of the Jordan River near the Jordanian town of Shoubak.

The Haddadin migration is attributed to fighting and unrest among clans in that area. According to modern living descendents of original Haddadin family members, Rahid's brother Sabra Haddadin was hosting Emir Ibn Kaysoom, head of a powerful Muslim clan in the region, when Sabra's wife gave birth to a baby girl.

According to custom, the Emir proposed a betrothal to his own young son when they came of age. Sabra believed the proposal was in jest, as Muslim-Christian marriages were not customary, and gave his word. When the Emir later came to the Haddadins and demanded that they fulfill their promise, they refused.

This set off bloody conflict between the two families. The Haddadins fled west and settled on the hilltops of Ramallah, where only a few Muslim families lived at the time. Today although town has a Muslim majority, Ramallah retains it's title as a historically Christian Palestinian town

Ramallah is known for its religiously relaxed atmosphere alcohol flows freely and movie theaters are well attended—and the cafes along its main streets. Ramallah is, without question, the cultural capital of the West Bank, with a highly educated and fashionable population. It is also the hub of Palestinian feminist activity; the city’s women frequently attend university rather than marry early, and several cafes run exclusively by women are used to fund local feminist organizations.

While there, it is easy to make small talk with the locals. Unless you are firmly anti-Israeli occupation, it is advisable that you do more listening than actual talking yourself, however. For the most part, Palestinians are glad to share their problems and plight to any western visitors.

Visiting Ramallah

Tourists with passports outside the Middle East have no problem entering or exiting Ramallah. Make sure to have your passport and visa stamp with you. Even though you will probably not need your passport to enter, you will be required to show your passport and stamp in order to re-enter Israel. Once through the checkpoint, it is a short drive to downtown Ramallah. Bear in mind that it is illegal for Israelis to enter Ramallah, under Israeli law.

On the way back, if you have an Israeli visa stamp or visa paper with your passport from when you arrived in Israel, then just stay on the bus as it arrives at Kalandia. Many passengers will get off here to go through a different security check. A couple of border guards with huge guns will come on to the bus to check passenger ID documents. They will probably speak English well and may ask some questions about where you are from,even though they can read it on your passport.

There is 1 one bus station on Al-Nahder St. that serves buses from/to Nablus, and probably other destinations north. There are at least three other bus stations in the city which also serve various destinations. Nevertheless, they are all pretty close to each other.

From Jerusalem the best connection to Ramallah is bus/sherut/serves 218 or 219. It departs from the Nablus Road station close to Damascus Gate on Nablus Rd (aka Derech Shchem) and will take you all the way to before mentioned bus station near the central square of al-Manara. It takes around 45 minutes.

From Bethlehem take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the Bethlehem bus station at Manger St. in the center. The trip takes 45 min all the way around Jerusalem..

From Jericho take a shared taxi (Sherut/serviis) from the central roundabout with the garden in the middle. The taxis are waiting on the western side of the roundabout. To increase your luck, you can also wait at the roundabout out of the city with the mosque. Even hitchhiking from there makes sense. The trip to Ramallah takes less than an hour. The exact price is listed in the tourist information on the central roundabout in Jericho centre.

From Nablus the trip takes about an hour. Ask around from which bus station in Nablus the correct bus starts.

It is worth asking the drivers before you get on to double-check the bus is going to the right destination. You might be surprised how many of them can speak basic English. There are two main types of buses. There are small ones with about 20 seats, and biggers ones that look more like coaches and are much more comfortable. They all cost the same, and there is usually a rush of passengers pushing their way onto the buses.

From Jerusalem's Damascus Gate you can find taxis to Ramallah for approximately ₪80-100 depending on your bargaining skills. You can also take a taxi to Kalandia checkpoint and walk through, picking up another taxi on the other side. It costs about ₪30 from Kalandia to Ramallah centre.

Heading north from Jerusalem on road #60, you will arrive to Ramallah very quickly. You will have to pass one Israeli checkpoint on the way: Kalandia.

As the Kalandia airport is not accessible for civilian passengers anymore, the only nearby passenger airports are Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv and Queen Alia in Amman then heading towards Allenby Bridge aka King Hussein Bridge and passing through it - Visa on arrival for Israel is available for most common nationalities.

It is easy to find a taxi to get around Ramallah for ₪10 fixed charge, or the amount specified by the fare-meter. Car rentals are also available, but seldom needed. As the city center is relatively small, it is not hard to walk to most destinations downtown,including the old city.

Service shuttles orshared taxis are also available from downtown to most suburbs and to the outskirts of the city at relatively low prices ₪2.5 inside the city and up to ₪6 to nearby towns and villages. Make sure to confirm a price before getting into a taxi.

The city is one of the most vibrant ones in the West Bank. In Ramallah, a few historic and religious sites are present. However, the downtown streets are a must see during the day, as the city is often really congested.

Hisbeh produce market, see below.

1 Old City. While not resembling any Medina-style old city, several churches and mosques can be found that may be of interest to visitors.
The Friends Schools. One of the oldest schools in the region, are also a must visit as there is one near the old city, and another in the entrance of the downtown coming from Jerusalem.

2 Yasser Arafat's mausoleum 700 m northwest of the central roundabout. 10am-5pm, except Mondays. The mausoleum is the only part of the Mukata'a two-block complex tourists can visit. You will be asked by the armed guards at the gate to leave any bags large or small with them but they will allow you to take your camera with you to visit the tomb.

Inside you will find a couple of soldiers standing guard over the tomb. This seems to be a ceremonial guard and they will not object to your taking photos inside there, even of yourself or others next to the marble gravestone. Next to the mausoleum is the museum building where Arafat was held under siege by the Israeli Army in 2002.

The museum is interesting in a way that it displays the Palestinian, sometimes a little questionable but interesting view of the difficult past. Mausoleum is free - Museum is ₪5.

3 West Bank headquarters of the Palestinian Authority. Closed for public. The Mukata'a is a two-block compound with a white tower that is lit up at night and visible from most parts of the city. It contains some government offices and conference rooms, as well as the above mentioned Yasser Arafat's mausoleum.

4 Dar Zahran Heritage Building 750 m west of the central roundabout. Mon-Sat, opens 11am. A protected and family-owned building and one of the top sights in Ramallah, displaying the history and art of Ramallah's past and present. A nice and helpful host takes care of the place with over 200 years of history. It is also a hotel and you can buy souvenirs.

5 Al Tireh. A fortress from the 12th century.

Activities

Tourism, in the traditional sense, is almost non-existent in Ramallah compared to other cities in the region. If you are visiting Ramallah, it is probable that you are doing so for political, business, and/or humanitarian reasons, expect to have lots of staring, curious but always friendly eyes looking at you as you walk though town.

Join a protest, e-mail: info@hostelinramallah.com. Many international visitors to Ramallah come to get taxi rides to see the protests in the neighboring villages like Nabi Saleh and the world famous Bil'in protests against Israel's separation barrier. Hostel in Ramallah has different tours, twice per week they organize trip to one of the protests and hebron city.

Turkish bath In the twin-city of El-Bireh. A good destination for foreigners wanting to relax for the day.

Ramallah is the home of the Friends School in the Palestinian Territories. The school has two campuses, one for grades 1-6 and is located near the old city. The other is for grades 7-12 and is located near the old police station destroyed by an Israeli air strike. The schools are famous for their international learning environment, intensive English language focus, and liberal learning atmosphere. The schools are private and have a number of notable Palestinian alumni.

The city also has a number of public and private schools that serve a good number of the West Bank youth population. Private schools with specific religious affiliations can also be found.

In the twin city of El-Bireh, there is also a school for the blind that also serves as a vocational center.

Birzeit University, which is in the neighboring town of Birzeit, is one of the Palestinian Authority's leading educational institutions. The University offers a large number of study options and at different levels for students. It also has several links with international institutions, and often has a number of international students attending it. The PAS (Palestinian and Arab Studies) program is popular with internationals visiting or working in the West Bank who want to learn Arabic and take classes on the history and politics of the Palestinian Authority.

The city also has branches for Al-Quds Open University, which offers continuing education opportunities to many Palestinians.

There are a number of vocational training centers in the city, neighboring towns, and refugee camps.
Work

Ramallah is a vibrant Palestinian business hub, especially as most international agencies and governmental offices are located in the city. However, with the immigration of Palestinians from other cities in the West Bank to Ramallah, there is a highly competitve job market and many Palestinians, especially young men come to the city seeking work. The most popular career portal In Ramallah and Palestine is Jobs in Palestine .here you can find most jobs advertised by INGOs,NGOs,and local companies

Major working opportunities in Ramallah include information technology, pharmaceuticals, development cooperation, and the public sector. Restaurant and coffee shop jobs are also available, mainly during the summer. Agricultural jobs are minimal in the city, but a few can be sought in neighboring villages.

For foreigners, work opportunities tend to include consultancies in certain private sector markets - IT is most common. The vast majority of foreigners working in Ramallah are doing development or humanitarian work. A significant number are focused on human rights and advocacy. A number of UN agencies work directly in the West Bank and many, such as the UNDP, maintain office in Ramallah.

Volunteering opportunities are common in small and medium sized Palestinian NGOs as well as some international NGOs. Volunteering is an excellent way to get to understand an organisation and the field they operate in. Most local NGOs will appreciate foreign volunteers, particularly if they have good written English skills, enabling them to support fundraising work.

Volunteers are often paid small sums to cover basic travel costs but this varies. If you are planning to volunteer, have enough money to support yourself as Ramallah is not a cheap place to live. you could also volunteer in some new small projects as the first youth hostel in the city (HOSTEL in RAMALLAH) and through the hostel there are some other projects as an organic farm or refuge camps http://hostelinramallah.com

Shopping

There's not a huge amount to do in Ramallah if you are just visiting. A great way to spend your time could be to dip in and out of shops. Shop-keepers are among the most ready-to-talk and many have colourful lives. It gives you a good reason to walk around and take your time.

You will never find everything under one roof, but for a basket of common necessities, you will need to visit a baker, grocer, butcher, pharmacy and mini-market. Ramallah city centre, despite the development and growth of some new stores retains a small-town feel due to the protections for tenants that mean many shops have been in the same location for decades,rent agreed at the outset cannot be increased, so in many cases is only a few USD per year.

1 Hisbeh produce market (Souq) located near the main bus station and the central mosque, about 150m away from al-Manara Square (the centre of Ramallah. A great place to visit. Fresh fruits and vegetables can be found at reasonable prices. Produce is a mixture of Palestinian, Israeli and imported goods. Prices are basically fixed although bargaining is possible if you buy more than a few kilos.

2 Noora Heritage House, Al masion area. Traditional palestinian handcraft can be found here.

Butchers in Ramallah normally sell meat (Beef/Lamb) or chicken. If they sell both, they are separated and attended by different people. One of the best butchers is on Tireh Street about 1km from Al-Manara. The butcher will cut the meat to your specification and will mince it for you while you wait for no extra charge. If you ask for barbeque meat, you will also get a mix of coriandar, garlic and spices ready for BBQ.

Dining

The bakery on Al-Quds street where the buses emerge from the bus station is one of the best in town. The staple is 'kmaaj' or pitta bread. A bakery in the Old City (Ramallah Tahta) produces brown kmaaj and sliced bread.

Also the Arabic variety of ice cream in many places in Ramallah is worth trying - a very different and more gooey and sticky version of what is available in the west. Regular ice cream can be found everywhere also. Try Rukab's and Baladna ice cream shops on the main street.

There are a huge number of Falafel and Shawarma places on all of the main streets. A filling falafel or hummous pita sandwich with a drink should run you around ₪4-6 from any of the common downtown restaurants. At nicer restaurants, such a combination will run you a bit more.

A large Shawerma, Kebab, or Chicken sandwich goes for around ₪10-15 in most restaurants. A hamburger, fries, and a drink go for around ₪15-25 depending on the restaurant. Abu Alabed is an excellent Shawerma place located in the old city next to fish and chips restaurant. Big Bite located at the end of the main street offers a wide range of hot and cold sandwiches.

Nazareth Restaurant, Tireh Street (at the end of the main street). Popular for locals and serves really great (but hummousey) Falafel.

Saba, Tireh Street on the main street across the road from the famous "Rukab" Ice-Cream shop. Falafel.

Abu Khalil, Tireh Street. Another delicious Falafel.

Fish and Chips restaurant located in the old city. You can have a delicious dish of fresh fish or other seafood dishes. You can choose your favourite fresh fish from Palestine Fishery and ask the chef to prepare that fish for you in the way you like. They also prepare very delicious fish sandwiches at reasonable prices.

Angelinos on the left at the end of the main street. Another place to eat. Go with friends and you will like sandwich with turkey, stuffed pigeon and pizzas. Price/quality is very satisfactory.

Tomasso'spizza. For a nice pizza dine-in or take-out.

Checkers. For those who want more American/Western food, this place is a fast-food joint in the mini-mall and on the main street.

Chicago Cheese Steak a little south-east from Manara Square. American/Western

The city has a number of upscale restaurants. A nice steak or seafood dish will cost around ₪80. "Darna", "Angelo's", "Azure" are all nice options for upscale dining.

Ziryab, Main Street,just past the Jawwal office. 12-midnight. Ziryab is great in winter with a large open fireplace and good food. The prices are average. Alcohol is available. ₪50-100.

Tropicana Massyoun, behind the Quds Bank. A moderately-priced gourmet restaurant. Especially in summer, you can sit in the garden, and apart from the traditional Arabic food, they also serve European and Armenian dishes.

Drinking

Although predominately Muslim, Ramallah is still a Christian town, hence Ramallah's large restaurants usually serve alcohol. Expect a selection of imported beers (Heineken, Corona, etc.), spirits, and perhaps red or white wine. Do not display public intoxication, as at best, it is rude and inconsiderate to your Muslim hosts. At worst, it could be dangerous.

The city's active nightlife and its relatively liberal culture makes it a hot destination for visitors from other cities including Jerusalem during the weeknights and weekends.

During the night, a good number of shops are still open, especially during the summer. A common habit of the citizens of the city is going out for a drink, dinner, or a 'Argila' (flavoured tobacco waterpipe.) The cities various coffee shops, bars, and restaurants are a must see/visit. The nicer ones are often available closer the older city, and on the road going to Betunia, while some good ones can also be found outside the city center.

Palestinians seem to love fresh fruit-juice. For under ₪10 you can get a large juice with a mixture of anything from Pomegranate to Orange juice.

1 Silwadi (on Al-Manara square). This juice shop is the most famous and has been around for decades. Silwadi's something of a purist serving only pure juice.

2 Alsham Cafe (on Al-Manara square just below Stars & Bucks.). This one also serves a cocktail which includes ice-cream, nuts and dried fruit as well as chocolate sauce. ₪7-15.

Coffee shops

Ramallah offers a wide variety of coffeeshops ranging from the local low-scale ones serving Arabic Coffee for ₪2, to those fancy places serving the same item for ₪10-15. Try the Arabic drinks (arabic coffee, mint tea, sahleb, etc ), cappucinos and lattes, and fresh juices and cocktails at the numerous cafes around downtown and in the suburbs.

'Coffee shops' are places to drink coffee and smoke waterpipes. The term Argila is often used in Ramallah to describe the waterpipes, while Shishah is also used at some places. You might even see 'Hookah' or 'Hubbly Bubbly'. You can also smoke Arghila in almost any restaurant, although some have special areas for them.

You can order normal ('aadi') or fresh ('fresh'). Fresh means the tobacco is placed in a piece of fruit like an orange (or even a watermelon). It has a smoother flavour but is more expensive. You should also choose your flavour. Common flavours are double-apple ('tufateen') and lemon and mint ('limun-w-nana').

Depending on the location and type of restaurant of cafe, the price of smoking a nice and soothing tobacco waterpipe costs anywhere between ₪8-30. The cheapest places do have an unwritten men-only rule, however.

A mobile coffee stand (usually found at Rukab street two blocks west from Manara Square). Serving the arguably best sahlab in town. ₪4.

Baladna (next to Rukab icecream). a cheap 'Coffee Shop' with an un-written men-only rule. It is packed every day for most of the evening. A normal Arghila is about ₪8.

Tarwee'a (Main Street/Tireh Street near the Arab Bank). A midrange 'Coffee Shop' which accepts men and women

Also try "European" and "Karameh" on main street.

Pubs

Popular local places to get served alcohol are Zan's, Zryiab, Stones, Angelo's, and Sangria's. They all serve food as well and the local Palestinian beer "Taybeh" (which can challenge most European beers). For more robust beer lovers, Taybeh also comes in a delightfully rich tasting dark version although this isn't as widely sold as the lighter ale.

Most neighborhoods, particularly traditionally Christian ones have a couple of stores that sell beer, wine and spirits.

Silwadi Juice Shop, al-Manara Square (Right on the central square in Ramallah). 7am to midnight. Silwadi juice shop is the most famous juice shop in Ramallah. It has been in the same place for decades. They only serve fresh juice. Choose from a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Under ₪10.

Snobar, Masaif (al-Irsal) 10 minutes from the centre off the left from al-Irsal street. Evenings. Snobar is an open-air summer bar about 5 minutes in a taxi from the centre of the city. Snobar means pine tree in Arabic and the area is enclosed by tall pines. There is an outdoor swimming pool which is open in the afternoons. Food and alcohol available. ₪20 for a beer.

Radio, Al-Masyoun Area,Turn left at the lights next to the HSBC on Beitunya Road. Beit Anisa was the name now it is radio is Ramallah's latest addition to the nightlife and feels more like a bar in London's Soho. It attracts a mixture of locals, foreigners and others. Alcohol available. ₪25 for a Beer.

Orjwan, Al-Masyoun Area (Near the Sakakini Centre). Evenings. Orjwan is Ramallah's premium nightspot attracting the higher echelons. Holiday-snaps from Orjwan might not look out of place with those from New York or London. ₪20-30 for a Beer.

Taybeh Beer Brewery Taybeh village, negotiate a wage for taxi ride from Ramallah's bus station or catch a serveese to Taybeh. Run and operated by the Palestinian-American Khoury family, this is one of only a handful of micro-breweries in the Middle East.

It creates the famous Palestinian beer called "Taybeh" and gets it's name from the village that it is made in,the only 100% Palestinian Christian village in Palestine. They offer a tour of their factory and have a gift shop and fresh and very, very, very cheap beer on sale. The village of Taybeh also hosts it's very own Oktoberfest-style festival on the first week of October in Taybeh village ₪5 per beer.

Fiego (in the old city). An upscale and very cosy place in an old city building, with great lights, a warming fireplace for cold winter nights, friendly staff and excellent drinks. small beer ₪17, cocktails ₪35.

Accomodation

Hostel in Ramallah, Arafat square al-nuzha street (Almaktaba) 12 (from Ramallah bus station walk 5 min to Arafat square (ask at silwadi juice at al-manara square) Check-in: any time, check-out: 12:00. The first youth hostel in Ramallah. Including breakfast and city tour, political yours and introduction to Palestine, roof terrace and bar local beers cooking Palestinian food great city view. Close to night life in a safe zone in the city at night. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and many other activities can be organised. If you stay here you can collect a stamp for the AubergInn in Jericho for a steep discount of ₪100 to ₪60 (dorm bed). Also, the Nablus Youth Hostel offers a discount of ₪70 to ₪60 if you get recommended by Hostel in Ramallah. Dorm bed ₪50.

Al Wehdeh Hotel, Al Nahdah Street,Great Hotel, but a little run down but the cheapest in town.. single ₪150.

Merryland Hostel, 3rd floor of Al Ramoni building close to al-mactaba, No dormitories, so not really a hostel.Single ₪150, Double ₪180.

Al-Hajjal (on Jaffa Road),
Area D Hostel, Top Floor, Maliki Building, between Jerusalem bus station (#18) and main mosque al-bireh (At the bus station arriving from Jerusalem, take street towards big mosque and enter the second building on your right. Take the elevator to the top floor. You will see our sign on the building from the bus station. At night, enter via the parking garage using the doorbell there.), Check-in: 24/7, check-out: 24/7. Area D was recently selected as the Lonely Planet editor's top choice in town, and it focuses on the political situation, with lots of information and tours. A place to relax for a few days, get to know the city and its people, and learn more about this fascinating part of the world. Dorms for 70 NIS, Private rooms for 200 NIS/room, Apartments for 400 USD/month.

Mid-Class

City Inn Palace.

Best Eastern.

Rocky Hotel.

High Class

Grand Park Hotel. The most common destination in the city for businessmen and government officials. Room prices vary according to season, but often exceed the US$80 per night.

Royal Court Suites Hotel. An all-suites hotel where every room has a kitchenette and A/C. Daily and monthly rates in a tourist area close to restaurants and bars. Prices US$50-140, depending on type of suite.

Safety

Generally speaking, Ramallah is safe for non-Israeli foreigners. The Palestinian residents are usually quite happy to have foreign nationals visit them. Theft is relatively rare, although do not interpret that statement as an OK to let your guard down.

Bear in mind that although Ramallah has been under military occupation for a long time, the city is relatively stable. However, very rarely the Israeli military enters the city to arrest wanted Palestinians. This usually only happens in the dead of night, and they disappear before anyone realizes that they were there.

However, the Israeli military can enter Ramallah bluntly, and in large numbers. If this should happen while you are staying in Ramallah, do what the majority of Palestinians do, and stay inside until they leave and away from any soldiers or military vehicles. Do not assume that just because you are a foreign national that you will be safe.

That said, Ramallah hasn't seen any widespread violence since 2006 and it is highly unlikely to happen,unless there are escalations with Israel, which will be very apparent via international media. In the cases where the Israelis enter, it is usually to arrest a wanted Palestinian in an outskirts refugee camp in the middle of the night. They will rarely enter the city centre, so as to avoid an unnecessary confrontation with large crowds of civilians.

There are at least four bus stations in Ramallah. Simply ask around or at your accommodation which one is the relevant one for your next destination.

Jerusalem – Besides the Dead Sea, a central focus for most people coming to this region.
Nablus – One of the oldest cities in the world and famous for its kunafa/kenafeh.
Bethlehem – The biblical birthplace of Jesus and hometown of David, surrounded by Mar Saba Monastery and Herodium (Herodion) Park.
Jericho – One of the oldest settlements in the world and the Middle East, and a great starting point for Kalya Beach at the Dead Sea.

USA: Trump Starts Saudi Tour As Problems Mount At Home

US President Donald Trump landed in Saudi Arabia Saturday for the start of an eight-day foreign tour, taking his first steps on the world stage as scandals mount at home.

Trump can expect a warm welcome in Saudi Arabia where he is to meet King Salman and other senior royals -- in sharp contrast to Washington where pressure is building over his team's alleged links to Moscow.

Air Force One had barely taken off when it was announced that James Comey, the former FBI chief fired by Trump, had agreed to testify publicly about Russian interference in the US elections.

Reports also emerged that Trump had called Comey "a nut job" and that the FBI had identified a senior White House official as a "significant person of interest" in its probe of Russian meddling.

A red carpet was rolled out and staircase rolled up to Air Force One after it landed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh shortly before 9:50 am (0650 GMT).

Trump and his wife Melania, who dressed conservatively in black but did not cover her hair, walked side-by-side to the tarmac where they both shook hands with Saudi King Salman.

Trump is to hold talks with King Salman and the kingdom's two powerful crown princes later on Saturday, before giving a speech on Islam to leaders of Muslim countries on Sunday.

For Riyadh the visit is an opportunity to rebuild ties with a key ally, which were strained under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama who Sunni Arab Gulf states suspected of a tilt towards their Shiite regional rival Iran.

That, together with a more muted focus on human rights and the likely announcement of new arms deals, should please Washington's traditional Sunni Gulf allies.

He's going to be tougher on Iran, said Philip Gordon, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. "He's not going to lecture them on democracy and human rights."

Sunday's speech to dozens of Muslim leaders has been touted as a major event -- along the lines of a landmark address to the Islamic world given by Obama in Cairo in 2009.

The speech will be especially sensitive given tensions sparked by the Trump administration's attempted travel ban targeting several Muslim majority nations and accusations of anti-Islamic rhetoric on the campaign trail.

I'll speak with Muslim leaders and challenge them to fight hatred and extremism, and embrace a peaceful future for their faith, Trump said ahead of his visit.

Trump wants Gulf states in particular to do more to tackle extremists such as the Islamic State jihadist group.

He will encourage our Arab and Muslim partners to take bold, new steps to promote peace and to confront those, from ISIS to Al-Qaeda... who perpetuate chaos and violence that has inflicted so much suffering throughout the Muslim world and beyond,said Trump's National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.

Before departing, the president tweeted he would be "strongly protecting American interests" on his marathon eight-day trip to the Middle East and Europe.

After Saudi Arabia, Trump will head to Israel and the Palestinian Territories where he hopes to revive the moribund peace process.

He then travels to Europe where he will hold face-to-face meetings including with Pope Francis and France's new leader, Emmanuel Macron.

It is a trip fraught with peril for the real estate magnate, who is known to dislike lengthy travel.

The avalanche of revelations in the run-up to his departure have eroded Trump's standing at home where the parallels with Richard Nixon's ill-fated presidency are now being openly drawn.

On Friday, the probe into his campaign's Russia ties had identified a "significant person of interest" in the White House undercut Trump's insistence his election bid had nothing to do with the Kremlin.

The White House was rocked by another bombshell when reports emerged that Trump said his firing of "nut job" Comey had relieved "great pressure" on him due to the investigation.

The scandals have revived questions about his ability to strike a presidential tone with his foreign counterparts, with Trump declaring himself the victim of the "greatest witch hunt" in American political history.

Arms contracts

His visit to the Gulf is expected to bring lucrative arms contracts for US firms.

"The big question mark that you should bear in mind is if Saudi Arabia signs up for a $100 billion arms deal with oil prices where they are today, how are they actually going to pay that in the future?" said Bruce Riedel, former CIA analyst and counterterrorism expert now with the Brookings Institution.

In Israel, Trump will meet his "friend" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Bethlehem.

The Israeli leg of his trip is already awash in controversy -- from a row over Trump's visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall, the holiest prayer site for Jews, to his alleged disclosure of Israeli intelligence to Russian officials.

Trump's meeting with Pope Francis -- two men at odds on everything from climate change to refugee policy remains highly unpredictable, although the pontiff says he will give America's bullish leader an open-minded hearing.

The president will also meet members of NATO in Brussels and attend a G7 summit in the picturesque Sicilian town of Taormina overlooking the Mediterranean.

PALESTINE: West Bank Tourism Very Low, Palestinians Blame Israel

The Palestinian National Authority has been making increased efforts to attract tourists to its historical religious sites.

However, earnings from tourism are still meager with the West Bank under tight Israeli control.

Watchtowers, barbed wire, and rifle-toting Israeli soldiers can't be an attractive sight for tourists heading to Palestine to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, to see the Church of the Nativity and to eat some tasty hummus. They hardly ever remain overnight.

The government data shows that last year tourism rebounded with 2.4 million foreign visitors. The figure is slightly higher against 2.2 million the year before but is still below the 2.5 million in 2014.

At the same time, very few visitors spend the night in the Palestinian territories.

Hotel stays by foreign visitors declined from 1.1 million in 2014 to 906,000 last year, compared to 8.5 million tourists staying in Israel in 2016.

According to the most recent data, Israel earned over $6 billion from tourism last year, while Palestinian areas reported less than $1.1 billion in 2014.

The annual rush to Bethlehem at Christmas does not bring these lands enough revenue. Tourists spend the day visiting the Holy sites and leave without spending much cash.

Moreover, most visitors go to Palestinian areas via Israel, which gets the first crack at serving them.

Political tension does not help the occupied territories attract tourists. “If we had an independent state, it would be magnificent,” said Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who puts hope on Christians flocking to Bethlehem year-round, bike trails through the Jordan Valley and sunbathing and spas on the Dead Sea.

Last year, the PLO accused Israel of obscuring the Palestinian identity of the most famous West Bank sites by rebranding them as the “Holy Land.”

The Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association hardly disputed the complaint.

“All tourists go through our system. Palestinian areas are an extension of our product,” said the head of Israel Incoming Tour Operators Association.

At the same time, Palestinian infrastructure can hardly provide competition with European-quality roads, cafes, and hotels that Israel can boast.

There’s only one five-star hotel in Bethlehem, but it hasn’t seen any repairs in years.

The city has few to offer the travelers compared to Jerusalem’s Old City attractions.

Manger Square, a city square in the center of Bethlehem, is surrounded by gift shops selling cheap olive wood renderings of the Madonna and Child, pearl-inlaid boxes, and T-shirts saying “I Love Palestine.” It takes a visitor an hour to explore the old town beyond the square.

The Walled Off Hotel is one of the most recent attempts to hook in some tourists. Opened by the London street artist Banksy, the guesthouse boasts “worst views of any hotel in the world,” as the windows of its ten rooms look out on to the 5-meter graffiti-covered concrete wall built to prevent Palestinians from getting into Israeli territory.

The three-story hotel has a low-lit bar, and restaurant decorated like a British colonial clubhouse, with ironic works by the artist covering the walls. The inn is fully booked until June.

“We hope to raise international awareness of how ugly this wall is and in that way contribute to peace,” says hotel manager Wissam Salsaa.

PALESTINE: Israel’s Strangles Palestinian Tourism

Strolling through the back streets of the beautiful Palestinian town of Bethlehem, you come across many tourists enjoying the sights, smells and tastes of this peaceful little town. Take another look and you glimpse the nervous look on their faces as they’re shuttled on and off of Israeli tour buses, scuttling from holy site to holy site and avoiding the eyes of the locals.

‘It is really not good,” said a taxi driver based at Bethlehem’s Church of Nativity. “Israeli tour companies prevent their tour groups from buying anything in the souvenir shops. The tours are paid for in West Jerusalem and then come to Palestinian towns without supporting the Palestinian economy in any way. How can I support my family?’

The 2014 Israeli assault on Gaza rocked both the Palestinian and Israeli tourist industries.

In Bethlehem this blow was painfully obvious around Christmas-time, when the expected annual hordes of tourists simply did not show up. Bethlehem relies on its image as a Christmas retreat, but this year the footfall dropped dramatically and small family-run businesses began to struggle more than ever.

“It is very difficult to fill bookings for tours,” a Palestinian tour guide and professional graffiti artist reported. “The thing is, it’s much easier for tourists to book through Israeli companies. They will have an easier time at customs and Israeli tour companies can offer a much more stable environment as they are even able to greet clients off of the plane, and walk them through customs. In contrast, clients of Palestinian tour groups may face longer delays at the airport. The tour companies are not allowed into the arrivals area and must wait outside for their tour groups”.
This was verified by 972 magazine, which reported the administrative obstacles also faced by Palestinian tour companies in the visa application process.

In November, a Palestinian guest-house owner told of her struggle to book out rooms: “I am very stressed this year because I don’t know if I can fill my guesthouse. Christmas bookings fund my kids’ Christmas and this year it is just not looking likely”.

The Israeli tourism industry also actively works to blur lines concerning the location of historical sites, claiming sites such as the Herodium outside of Bethlehem as Israeli archeological sites despite the fact that they are clearly within the 1967 borders. This appropriation is reportedly for the protection and preservation of the sites; but then an entrance fee is slapped down on and it’s listed on the tourism itinery for Israel.

In Nablus, my friend and I saw an Israeli tour company drop off a group of Belgian tourists at An-Najah university for a tour of the grounds. When we asked what they were up to, one replied that they were “touring Israel”.

This misconception, or even ignorance, of the Israeli-Palestinian borders is exacerbated by tour companies who refuse to tell tourists when they have crossed into the West Bank. Tour groups coming into Sebastiya, a small, richly historical town north of Nablus, actively avoid taking the ‘Arab’ road to the town, instead coming in around the old city in order to avoid the Palestinian residents. Similarly, Israeli tours to the Samaritan village and Joseph’s Tomb come in on a settler road and are under armed protection from Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). They are taken to the isolated view point from which you can see Nablus and its refugee camps (Askar and Balata), and told a Zionist version of the history of ‘Shechem’ (what Israel still calls the modern Palestinian town of Nablus).

A myth is therefore perpetuated: Palestinians are to be feared and avoided at all costs.

In addition to this, the Israeli appropriation of Palestinian culture, in their tours and tourism advertising, smothers opportunities for Palestinian tour companies to offer a unique cultural experience, despite efforts from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and programs such as PNN’s ‘Pal-Experiment’ to draw international attention to Palestine’s delights.

Israeli food tours offer the chance to learn how to cook what they call “Israeli dishes like fatoush salad, hummus and Moroccan fish” . Itineraries on Israeli tours include “foraging with Bedouins” followed by a “home cooked meal, visits to spice farms and wineries”- blatantly ignoring the plight of Palestinian Bedouins living in the West Bank under Israeli occupation- disenfranchised and forcefully relocated time and time again.

The Israeli tourism industry is also attempting to dominate the Christian pilgrim market, according to 972 Magazine, spending huge amounts on the refurbishment of religious sites within Israel and even offering a “Christmas Eve alternative to Bethlehem — which is under control of the Palestinian Authority — by inviting pilgrims and foreign diplomats to the Israeli city of Nazareth to enjoy a Christmas market, parade and fireworks…”..

Israeli domination of Palestinian tourism does so much more than squeeze the Palestinian economy. It allows Israel to control what internationals are told about Palestinians, to send them away with poisoned ideas about the community and society of Palestine, and to suffocate the real face of Palestine behind both a real wall and an imaginary one built of rumors and stereotype. It is easier to justify the occupation of an entire people when you cannot hear their voices.

Israel knows that international communication with Palestinians on a daily basis would undermine its campaign of painting a picture of terrorism, fear and danger in the West Bank. It knows that should word get out about the true nature of Palestinians- honest, kind and generous– the international community would have even less of an excuse for its already unfathomable support of the Israeli occupation.

ISRAEL: Israel's Interference In The Palestinian Tourism Industry

Israeli soldiers stand outside a souvenir shop for tourists in Bethlehem

Through a regime of permits, licenses and visas, Israel controls who guides most tourists to the Holy Land, what they are told and where they spend their money. Can Palestinians use tourism to take back the discourse on occupation?

Israel’s occupation and colonization of Palestine is not limited to its military elements — the occupation is also manifested in Israel’s use of tourism as a political tool. Tourism is used to strengthen Israel’s position as occupying power, to maintain its domination over Palestinian land and people, but also as an instrument for the dissemination of propaganda to millions of tourists, including politicians, community leaders and journalists who sometimes receive free-of-charge first-class tours to Israel.

All of these trips are accompanied by well-drilled Israeli tour guides spread the official Israeli narrative among visitors. This narrative is crafted through the omission of crucial information, and by ensuring that there is little or no contact between visitors and local Palestinian communities.

Simply put, Israel knows that being exposed to the present and historical realities of the occupation would have a transformative effect on the majority of tourists to Palestine. Such tourists might then return to their home countries as opponents to Israel’s oppressive policies against Palestinians — the opposite effect of the tours sponsored by pro-Israel organizations. With that in mind, in 2008, an Israeli branding campaign was developed for the tourism industry to deflect attention from the occupation.

“Millions of tourists come to Bethlehem, Palestine, every year and, without talking to a single Palestinian, return home as enemies of Palestine and ambassadors of Israel,” explains Rifat Kassis, coordinator of Kairos Palestine, a Palestinian Christian anti-occupation movement.

When Israeli-run tours avoid Palestinian areas it gives the message that Palestinians are dangerous and not to be trusted. The result is that tourists return home with false “confirmation” that Palestinians are indeed a threat to the safety of Israel and its tourists.

Additionally, the maze of unequal laws and restrictions gives Israeli tour companies an unfair advantage in their ability to provide seamless service for their groups. Israel follows a two-tiered strategy: firstly to invest millions of dollars into its tourism market in order to attract the maximum number of visitors; and secondly to cripple the Palestinian market as much as possible. Very few permits to build or convert buildings to hotels were granted by the Israeli authorities to investors in the Palestinian sector in the last two decades, while Israeli authorities issued at least 15 military orders and regulations related to tourism since 1967.

These orders raised the requirements for licensing and functioning of tourist institutions without availing those institutions of the means necessary to meet the required improvements. As a result, many Palestinian tourism firms faced the often-insurmountable challenges of unequal competition with Israeli firms or demotion to lower tourist grades.

Israeli tourism enterprises are offered long-term loans at concessionary interest rates, sometimes with part of the loan being converted into a grant. New Israeli tourism enterprises are eligible for tax reductions, and vigorous government support for Israeli enterprises active in Israel has proved to be a major impediment to full and equitable competition with Palestinian enterprises, which are totally deprived of such subsidies and assistance.

Without the ability to accommodate additional tourists during peak season, Palestine is deprived of the opportunity to host tourists for longer periods of time, resulting in visitors taking only short day trips in Palestine. This has negative implications for the local economy.

In addition, very few Palestinian tour guides receive permission to lead tours in Israel. Israeli authorities issued 42 permits in 2005, the only time such permits were granted. Today, only 25 of those 42 guides are still operational, compared to 8,000 Israeli guides who are licensed to lead tours by the Israeli Tourism Ministry.

Other Israeli restrictions are applied directly on would-be tourists to Palestine. When Israeli travel agencies apply for visas for their clients, they simply submit names and passport numbers and their requests are generally met without delay. In contrast, Palestinian agencies attempting the same are met with administrative obstacles, and cannot guarantee that their visa requests will be accepted.

Furthermore, if tourists tell Israeli border control agents that they plan to visit Palestine, they are often delayed for questioning by Israeli authorities. Some deported.

Moreover, Israel has installed a web of hundreds of permanent checkpoints and other military obstacles which restrict movement both inside the West Bank and across its borders, which Palestinians and foreign tourists alike are forced to negotiate. Dozens of “flying checkpoints” are erected without warning throughout the West Bank on a weekly basis. Ra’fat al Shomali, a Palestinian tour guide, emphasizes the crippling impact of these checkpoints. Often he does not have the time to finish his tours on account of being forced to wait at checkpoints.

Israel is also attempting to exclude Palestinians from the crucial Christian pilgrim market.

Israel has spent millions of dollars refurbishing Christian sites in Israel and trying to create new ones… The [Israeli] Tourism Ministry is also promoting a Christmas Eve alternative to Bethlehem — which is under control of the Palestinian Authority — by inviting pilgrims and foreign diplomats to the Israeli city of Nazareth to enjoy a Christmas market, parade and fireworks…

Palestinians emphasize that, as a result they are being cut out of a market they once dominated. Palestinian tourism officials say Israel is discouraging visits to areas administered by the Palestinian Authority and is promoting attractions in other de facto annexed parts of the West Bank, such as the baptismal site at the Jordan River.

“We have more sites on our side, and Israel is using them to develop their own tourism, leaving us with a smaller piece of the pie,” explains former Palestinian Tourism Minister Kholoud Daibes, contending that Israel collects 90 percent of pilgrim-related revenue. “They are promoting occupied territory as part of Israel.”

Israel’s grip on Palestinian tourism allows it to control the discourse, terminology and language through which foreigners understand Palestine and the occupation. Palestinian tourist institutions can play a crucial role in retaking that discourse, by introducing and establishing their own language, terminology narrative, and by simple person-to-person advocacy. Come visit Palestine!