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Tel Rumeida

Tel Rumeida: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Jerusalem: Hebron and West Bank Dual Perspective Tour

1. From Jerusalem: Hebron and West Bank Dual Perspective Tour

Take a full-day tour to explore Hebron, the largest city in the West Bank, and the most contested. See the sites and meet people from both sides of the Old City, Israeli and Palestinian, both within "H2", the Israeli controlled side of Hebron. Starts with a guided tour of the Jewish "settler" neighborhoods of Hebron, beginning at the hilltop Tel Rumeida, with a Bronze Age archeological site, army base, and tomb of the Biblical Ruth and Jesse. From there we will visit the Beit Hadassah museum about Jewish life in Hebron until the riots of 1929, the "Shavei Hevron Yeshiva" in Beit Romano and the Avraham Avinu quarter and restored synagogue. Visit the Israeli/Jewish side of the divided Tomb of the Patriarchs, known as Maarat (the Cave of) HaMachpela with the symbolic tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Jacob and Leah, all said to be buried in the cave beneath. Crossing over into the Palestinian side, start at the Muslim side of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, known as Ibrahimi (Abraham's) mosque, led by a Palestinian guide. Inside, discover the Mameluke era mosque and minbar- raised wood platform, and tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca. Then, walk through the colorful Old City "Casbah" market and have a home-cooked lunch with a Palestinian family. Climbing on top of a family home for a rooftop view, learn about the difficult conditions of Palestinian residents and shop owners living in close proximity to the nearby settlements. Going through the busy city center, cross a checkpoint and end the tour back at the top of the closed "Shuhada" street. This is a unique tour: it will present two very different narratives of one ancient, very contested city, Hebron. This is the only tour with two guides, Israeli and Palestinian, each showing half of the divided old city. The tour is political but objective, with each participant free to form their own opinions.

From Tel Aviv: Hebron and West Bank Dual Perspective Tour

2. From Tel Aviv: Hebron and West Bank Dual Perspective Tour

Leaving Tel Aviv you'll head south into the hills of Judea on your way to "H2", the Israeli controlled area of Hebron and the largest city in the West Bank. Whilst there, visit the divided Tomb of the Patriarchs, home to the symbolic tombs of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob and Leah, and even Adam and Eve. Following that, tour the Jewish "settler" neighborhoods of the city by visiting the Avraham Avinu Quarter and restored synagogue, the Beit Hadassah Museum about Jewish life in Hebron before the riots of 1929, and the "Shavei Hevron Yeshiva" in Beit Romano. You’ll also visit the hilltop Tel Rumeida, the site of a Bronze Age archaeological site, army base, and the tomb of Ruth and Jesse from the Bible. Crossing over into the Palestinian area you’ll be met by a Palestinian guide with whom you will enter the bustling city center. Enjoy an optional home-cooked lunch with a Palestinian family, providing you with the chance to speak with a variety of locals. Following lunch, climb on top of a family home for a rooftop view over the city and learn about the difficult conditions of Palestinian residents and shop owners living in close proximity to the nearby settlements. You'll then visit the Muslim side of the Tomb of the Patriarchs, known as the Ibrahimi (Abraham’s) Mosque. This tour of Hebron is a unique tour in that it presents two very different narratives of one ancient, contested city. Throughout the experience you’ll have two guides, one Israeli, one Palestinian, each showing a different half and a different perspective of this city. The tour is political but objective, with each participant free to form their own opinions.

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What people are saying about Tel Rumeida

Overall rating

4.4 / 5

based on 45 reviews

Can recommend the trip. You see both sides of Hebron and have the opportunity to speak to Jews as well as to Palestinians. The Jewish guide was very competent and had a wide knowledge. Not everything was accurate with the Palestinian guide and a Palestinian who told something during the welcome round. On the one hand, the massacres of 1929 affected by the Jews were presented as newly emigrated people who had been provocative with their way of life. This is wrong; the 67 victims were almost exclusively the "old Yishuf", i.e. Jews who had lived side by side with the Arabs for centuries. Also, the Hebron Supplementary Protocol was not some sort of backdoor invention by the Israelis, but a joint understanding - also jointly signed - with the PLO. If you have no prior knowledge of the subject and believe everything - difficult! Other than that, I didn't see anything wrong with the Palestinian narrative.

It was an amazing experience to listen to the experiences and perspectives from both sides of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. I did this tour on Christmas Day and left with a pit in my stomach for the people of Hebron and the difficult life they live there because of years of conflict and the coercive control now inflicted on the Palestinian people and that the Israelis army deems to be necessary. It seems pretty extreme on all counts. I especially feel very concerned for the generational trauma and toxic stress that the children of Hebron must experience as a result of just living there. I left there feeling helpless but so glad I went because the education was very worthwhile. What both guides (Eli and Tariq) are doing by giving these tours is truly revolutionary for those wanting to understand more about the history and ongoing life in Hebron and the Palestinian regions in general.

Great tour, great guides. I highly recommend this tour to those that are interested in and willing to sit through lots of political explanations. It was what they promised and beyond, well worth my money. Again, it helps to have some cultural and political background knowledge to get the most out of this tour.

This was a truly incredible and enligghtning day. I would highly recommend it to any one willing to try and understand the situation in this area better.

Highly recommended. Thought provoking, confronting tour going deep into such a complex issue. Eli and Mohammed have excellent guides.