Why Hebron? You might be wondering why we chose Hebron (a city in the West Bank, Palestine), as our headquarters, particularly as it’s one of the lesser known cities in the region. Well, don’t worry, as this article aims to explain why Hebron is the ideal location for international visitors who come to volunteer, study or complete an internship with us.

The Main Benefits Of Having Engage In Palestine In Hebron Are:

• That our building is conveniently located; it’s in an area under Palestinian Authority (PA) supervision and is subsequently easily accessed by locals and visitors alike.

• That it’s close to local amenities such as supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, gyms and much more.

• That our hospitality is renowned.

• That there is the opportunity to meet new people, find out about their lives and improve your Arabic language skills.

• That it’s safe – as Hebron is a relatively safe place and if you stay with a host family, they will help keep you from any danger as well as offer advice. Our staff are also available if you need any safety advice. 

• That there’s a plethora of opportunities to learn more about the political situation and see the reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and life under occupation.

• That it’s a historic city with lots for you to discover such as religious tombs and old streets.

Where Is Engage In Palestine? 

Our center is located in the heart of Hebron, on Ein Sarah Street, an area under the supervision of the Palestinian Authority. Being one of the best known streets in the region, Engage in Palestine’s convenient base makes it popular for international and Palestinian visitors alike. 

Additionally, its central location makes it well connected to Hebron’s municipal and educational organizations and offerings such as restaurants, supermarkets, banks, gyms, shops, NGOs, cafes, mosques and much more. 

Furthermore, Engage in Palestine is also licensed as a cultural and educational center by the Palestinian Ministry of Education, which also supervises our center’s quality of education and an overwhelming part of that is because of the culture that naturally surrounds Hebron.

Where Is Hebron, West Bank, Palestine?

Hebron (also known as Al-Khalil) is the largest city in the West Bank; located south of Jerusalem (30 km) and featuring three universities –  Hebron University, Palestine Polytechnic University and Al Quds Open University (Hebron branch). Hebron is important to the economy of the area due to the sale of marble from quarries as well as its specialist products of grapes, figs and limestone. It also has a plethora of pottery workshops and glass blowing factories, and is the location of the major dairy product maker, al-Junaidi. Alongside this, the last factory which makes the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh is a ten minute walk from Engage in Palestine. 

If you prefer something more historic however, the old city of Hebron has narrow, winding streets, flat-roofed stone houses and old bazaars. As one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities of Palestine, the old town is known for its famous historic sites including the tomb of Abraham, The Russian Orthodox Church, and Abraham’s Oak Holy Trinity Monastery.

Palestinians In Hebron Are Very Hospitable

During your time here, you will be surrounded by people who want to help make your trip to Palestine as enjoyable as possible. You might hear them saying “hello”, “welcome to Palestine!” or “how are you?” as you amble down the streets and although it might be unusual at first, all these greetings are as a sign of hospitality and eagerness, as we are always glad to have you here.

Palestinians in Hebron want to make sure you feel totally comfortable and welcome on their sacred land and among their people, and consequently always happy to help with anything you may need. Additionally, internationals studying, volunteering or interning at Engage in Palestine often stay with a local host family, enabling you to receive that hospitality right from when you arrive. 

What Are The Advantages Of Living With A Palestinian Host Family?

The prospect of living with a group of people that you do not know, along with a language barrier, can be daunting. However, we believe that these discomforts are learning experiences that bring about great growth and advantages. We’ve found that discomfort is usually eased very quickly and living with a Palestinian family is a positive experience for our guests. There are many benefits including:

• Immersion in the Palestinian Culture: Living and interacting with a local family in Palestine is the best way to completely immerse yourself in the culture, customs, traditions, and language of the Palestinian people.

• A unique insight into the daily life of a family, such as sharing delicious home-cooked traditional meals and attending family events.

• Experiencing Palestinian culture and hospitality: A host family offers a brilliant resource for learning the culture first hand and experiencing the beauty of Palestinian hospitality. There will be plenty of opportunities to attend traditional wedding ceremonies and other events with a host family, especially on Fridays, when families usually welcome large gatherings and cook traditional food.

Learning Arabic With The Help Of Your Host Family

Living with a host family also provides the most efficient way of learning the language. While most families do speak some English, you can expect the majority of conversation to be held in the Palestinian dialect, with Google translate coming in handy if you don’t yet speak Arabic!

However, families with small children are particularly helpful in this respect, since the vocabulary of young children is simpler and their pronunciation is often corrected by their parents. Parents will also often be delighted for you to help out with children’s English homework, providing a chance for practicing simple translations.

Host Families For Female And Male Participants

Due to the conservative nature of Hebron, it can be challenging to place male participants with a host family, so this option is only guaranteed for our female participants. However, whether you are a man or woman, you may be invited for a meal or to spend time with a family during your stay in Palestine. This will give you a great insight into Palestine hospitality and chances to practice your Arabic while also being a lot of fun!

Safety In Hebron

Is Palestine really safe? This is a question that many visitors of Palestine and Israel, (including international volunteers, interns, Arabic students and their families) ask when someone is considering coming to Palestine and Engage in Palestine’s center in Hebron.

We understand that people including students, visitors, volunteers and tourists are concerned about the safety and the security situation in the West Bank as the international news and media paint a picture of the situation in Palestine as being very tense and sometimes dangerous, however…

Hebron Is Safer Than Some Western Cities

It is easy to trust the people of Hebron and visitors can generally walk alone on the streets without concern for theft or potential problems. “I feel incredibly safe in Palestine,” says Lauren Souz, an Engage in Palestine volunteer from the United States.

“I actually feel much safer than in America…I’m never harassed and have never had any problems. I have been bothered by the attention at times, but have never felt unsafe.”

Cara Van Dusen, a volunteer from America, has volunteered at Engage in Palestine twice, with the most recent being Autumn 2015. Israeli-Palestinian tensions were especially high at that time but Cara expressed that she still felt safe in Hebron:

“There would sometimes be clashes between Israeli settlers, Palestinians and soldiers, but these were easy to avoid and locals were a great help with this. Now that I’m in Palestine again things feel much calmer and clashes are rare. Palestine has always been so much more than the fighting we see in the news and there are so many beautiful and deeply kind people that I’ve been honored to meet. I feel safe and loved and would encourage anyone thinking of volunteering to come and experience this for themselves.” 

More recently, Mami from Japan, one of our volunteers in 2023 said, “I felt very safe in the city as a foreigner. There was not one moment when I felt in danger. In my opinion, this is the most welcoming place I have ever been as a foreigner, with people saying hi, welcome to you everyday on the street with smiles.”

Safety: What Does Our Coordinator Say?

“Most of Hebron and Palestine is very safe,” writes Engage in Palestine/Excellence Center Coordinator Marwa Shantir. “There are sometimes problems in the Old City,” she explains, “but even then it is not usually dangerous for foreigners.”

During times of increased tension, you may need to be aware of the situation and avoid certain areas or routes due to clashes or road closures. In such instances, you can rely on locals and public transportation operators being familiar with these problems and adapting accordingly. The safety of our guests and volunteers is one of our top priorities and we want to ensure everyone who stays with Engage in Palestine has a positive experience. 

The Political Situation And Life Under Occupation

Hebron, West Bank is an interesting destination for those looking to learn more about the Israel-Palestine conflict, as its divided status serves as a microcosm for the conflict as a whole. If you choose to stay in Hebron, you will undoubtedly gain a better understanding of the local people, their struggles, triumphs and the reality of life under occupation. 

You will also be able to see firsthand how part of the city has been taken over by Israeli settlers and discover how this affects the daily lives of the Palestinians. International visitors are able to travel freely through the parts of Hebron which Palestinians are not permitted to access and this is something which often sticks in the minds of our guests and inspires them to raise awareness of the situation.

A Brief History Of Hebron, Palestine

In its early history, Hebron was under Byzantine rule, after which it fell prey to the crusaders. In succession, the Ayyubids, Mamelukes, Ottoman Empire and an Egyptian General all laid claim on Hebron. In recent history, Khalil was occupied by the British forces, then by the Jordanian kingdom and finally came under Israeli occupation. It is now divided into H1 (Palestinian Authority) and H2 (Israeli Authority). 

An Important Place

Although not one of the most commonly visited tourist destinations, Hebron is home to several important sites. The most famous is Al-Ibrahimi Mosque, commonly known as the burial site of Abraham, the patriarch of all three major monotheistic religions, as well as several other important religious figures. 

As aforementioned, Hebron is also home to the Hirbawi textile factory- the last remaining factory to produce keffiyehs in Palestine. You can also find pottery and glassware factories in Hebron, and you may even be lucky enough to see some items being made right in front of you. It is very interesting to see the craftsmen at work and people are often happy to let you explore the factories.

Palestinian Youth In Hebron, Palestine

The youth here are very informed, politically active and well versed in social media. As Palestinians are so hospitable, the youth will also never pass up a chance to talk to you and engage foreigners. Furthermore, Khalil features several organizations with young local volunteers who are actively participating in shaping their society.

From poetry nights to hanging out in nearby recreation parks in the evening – or just meeting friends on the streets – Khalil offers a variety of city life. Men and women tend to socialize separately but altogether, the participants of Khalil have a great sense of humor, have developed a true joking culture and are also warm and inviting.

What Is Hebron Famous For?

The city’s surrounding landscape is breathtaking, with the white lime-stone buildings towering majestically over the city below. Khalil is famous for quarries, its glass and ceramic manufacturing, its production of olive wood, textiles as well as its shoe industry. It is also close to other cities like Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Nablus for the occasional weekend (or day trip) away.

Embroidery Products In Hebron, Palestine

You will also find beautiful embroidery products carefully crafted by local women. Palestinian embroidery (tatreez in Arabic) is not only very beautiful and intricate, but it is an important part of Palestinian identity and both the motifs and colors tell stories. When purchasing products, don’t be afraid to bargain as you can best learn a language through an array of sensory-impressions and interactions with the local residents.

Final Conclusions

Hebron/Al-Khalil is the most suitable location for Engage in Palestine. It is a place where both Palestinians and international visitors can come to study and develop their skills and is also an area where people can meet and share their stories and experiences. You will find plenty of things to see and do in Hebron as there are many cafes, restaurants and a variety of shops selling local produce and handmade crafts. Here you can find unique gifts and souvenirs as well as practical items. Additionally, Hebron is a mix of old and new and it is interesting to compare the different parts of the city and see which you like best. If you choose to visit and stay in Hebron, you will be able to easily immerse yourself into Palestinian life.  

We believe that Hebron/Al-Khalil is the perfect location for Engage in Palestine. The region provides visitors with an authentic experience and an accurate view of Palestine and is conveniently located for those who wish to travel to the nearby cities – for example, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Nablus are just a short bus ride away.

As Hebron is a vibrant, dynamic and welcoming city, it is the perfect location for Engage in Palestine and a great place for you to visit, volunteer, intern or study Arabic.