I felt very buoyed by the commitment to nonviolence that I felt from talking to Palestinians in the West Bank. I don't try to be an expert. Rick: And the Sea of Galilee was the source of the freshwater for Israel — and still is. Adjacent the president's headquarters stands the tomb of Yasser Arafat. My ancestors came here and carved these terraces into the mountains. Call him what you like, people here celebrate Arafat as the man who did more than anyone else to raise awareness of the Palestinian struggle for independence. While wandering the Muslim Quarter, you may see houses fortified and festooned with Israeli flags — homes of Zionist families determined to stake out this bit of the Old City for their Jewish community. I was born and raised here. Second man on balcony: It's not going to work. Rick Steves' Europe. This hour-long special weaves together both the Israeli and the Palestinian narratives. By the way, a century ago, about 20 percent of all Palestinians were Christian. My husband and I plan to travel in 2016 to the Holy Land and are looking for a great tour to take. First man on balcony: Yes. Today the dark, sprawling church is the most sacred site in Christendom. Two thousand years ago, Caesarea was a mighty Roman seaport. I roamed the residential streets of a well-fortified, hill-capping, modern Israeli settlement in the West Bank, looking for a family to interview. Rick: I think it's impossible for a traveler to be hungry in Palestine. To me, the future and the hope for peace rests with the people who live on either side of the wall — in Israel and the West Bank — who want to live together and who believe that violence is not an answer. Hi, I’m Rick Steves, back with more travels. What's it like? I don't think we've seen it yet. We did not cover Gaza, which is run by or has been run by Hamas. We call it now Israeli food but you can find it in the Arab countries, you can find it Lebanon, you can find it all over the Middle East. We had a chance to talk with people in the university. The faithful believe prayers left in cracks between the stones of the Western Wall will be answered. I've also suspected that most well-educated, politically active Americans have never really had a chance to talk to an Israeli and to a Palestinian and sort through all the complexities of the region. A no-man's-land with Jewish political art decorating closed buildings divides the two communities. I was watching the episode about Israel and Palestine on Youtube and it started with a great peace of music. Nativity Square marks the center of Bethlehem. One regret I had in producing "Rick Steves' The Holy Land: Israelis and Palestinians Today" was that a lot of fascinating material wound up on the cutting-room floor. And, while Israelis celebrate the birth of their nation, Palestinians call Israel's Independence Day the "Day of Catastrophe." Nearby, at Birzeit University, with its beautiful campus and 9,000 students, you feel a younger generation, working hard and engaged. Posted by nightnurse on 08/20/18 01:46 PM. So in that capsule they have a parchment with that Scripture. Man in café: You answer. Add an extra day and night with room, meals, car, and guiding for two for $350 (the third day can be good for many plans). A recurring symbol throughout Palestine is the key. And just like Seattle's a city so is Ma'aleh Adumim a city. Much of Jerusalem's importance rests upon this holy site, which is both an inspiration and a flashpoint for the religions that share it. But the people who are pro-settlements are calling the shots today, so it's especially important to understand what makes them tick. My three guides were instrumental in the scouting and production of the Holy Land TV show. Everything that you see here is grown here locally. As a travel writer, that's what I do. 'Cause the olive tree gives without taking. Radiating out from Temple Mount is Jerusalem's Old City. And, along the way, we'll hear a few of the many perspectives here. An expert political, interfaith, and religious Holy Land guide, he lives in Bethlehem and is the Palestinian guide for National Geographic expeditions. And you're not using it, you know? Spain Rick Steves Special: The Holy Land, Israelis And Palestinians Today Airs Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 at 10 a.m. on KPBS TV Thursday, December 12, 2019 And we were hanging out with the kids and the families in the parks. I wanted to do a show that was balanced and showed both narratives. That's when the patriarch (or prophet) Abraham had two sons: From Isaac came the Israelites, and Ismael spawned the Arabs. Our dual narrative approach has been featured by National Geographic, the United Nations, and CNN. Every Friday I say this message for everybody. Whenever I make a TV show, I want local voices — and that was particularly important here, because we wanted the Israeli narrative and we wanted the Palestinian narrative. In my endeavor to talk to different people with different views in the Holy Land, I talked with three charming young women about their reality: Western popular influence; how and why they might wear a hijab to cover their heads; and a few fashion tips. Like the Jewish Quarter, it also stretches out from Temple Mount, which is crowned by that glittering Dome of the Rock. see our FAQ. Rick: So there's churches but there's mosques, also, in Bethlehem? Woman: Yes, and you have to leave something on your plate, 'cause if you don't keep something in your plate — food — you'll get another kind food. Israel Holy Sites Tour: Christian Sites, Bible Tour of Israel, Holy Land Travel, Tourist Attractions This happy and talkative cleric shared a charming view of Islam. We also learn about security walls, disputed settlements, and the persistent challenges facing the region. Rick: Insha'Allah. I didn't want to just talk to tour guides, and I didn't want to just talk to activists or people from the tourist board or the public-relations folks. Kamal: We are in Palestine. We want to show them we, we're accepting this now because we want to show you this is not who we are. It's October, and across the land — as they have since ancient times — families gather in the olive groves for the harvest. Nablus is the second city of the West Bank in population, with a fine modern center and a long history. Here, Jews live literally atop Palestinian Muslims as the two communities struggle to be near the tomb of their common patriarch. Posted on October 30, 2013 November 27, 2013 by Rick Steves. I can't go to Jerusalem also. Here are 10 different interviews with people I met in the Holy Land. This is the Best of Israel. Thank you Rick for your balanced presentation of Israel and Palestine on your recent show on OPB. Approaching any Palestinian city, a bold red sign makes it clear: You're leaving the realm of the Israeli military and entering the zone controlled by Palestinian security. Jump to bottom. It's our right. About 20 percent of the population are Arab citizens of Israel — generally Palestinians who never left after the formation of Israel. If you talk to an Orthodox Jew about Palestine, he or she — as a matter of principle — will call it "Judea and Samaria" because that group of people believes that's what it should be. Jerusalem is a sprawling and modern city of about 800,000 people. There's history everywhere, and within a two-hour drive of Jerusalem you can take a sweeping tour of sites illustrating its tumultuous past. This time we're exploring the Holy Land — Israel and Palestine. I'm not selfish man. We are in our late 40's/early 50's and would like to see as much as possible on the tour. Rick: What would you say to an Arab that says, "This is on the other side of the line defining the West Bank and it's Palestinian territory and you don't belong here" — what…what would you say to them? So, by looking at somebody, you can tell if he's Ashkenazi, and which movement amongst the Ashkenazi, or Sephardi, or Lithuanian, and so on and so forth. Wandering Palestinian streets and markets, I kept thinking how easy it is to get here, how little I knew of it, and how rarely visited this land is. We would drop in on people in cafes in Israel. Rick: Yeah. Control of land is the crux of the problem between Israelis and Palestinians and occupying the high ground is more than a military issue — it's a civilian one as well. Imam: I hope in whole of the world to be one family, one family. Rick: That's a good analogy. Abie Bresler is a Jewish Israeli guide offering tours in Israel. And they claim it's been effective — noting that since its construction, there's been almost no terrorism. Kamal Mukarker, who guided Rick Steves and his TV crew around the West Bank, is a private, licensed guide who also rents five excellent rooms in his B&B in Bethlehem. In Palestine, he harvests olives near Hebron, visits a home in Bethlehem, and pops into a university in Ramallah. We didn't intend to come home with any solutions. Land for Palestinians is a complicated and very human challenge that deserves a thoughtful response from American leaders. They say, "It was planted by our grandfathers for us to eat and we plant it for our grandchildren to eat.". These are the great teachers. How many pairs of shoes … by StockFootage.com. Rick: Maybe I'm naïve. Watch the interview. Exploring Jerusalem's Old City, with its tight quarters and religious passions, I was impressed by the diversity, the feeling of community, and how, all in all, things seem to work together. To appreciate the impact of the Holocaust, critical in understanding the psyche of today's Israel, visit Yad Vashem. There is some dispute in the world as to what this should be and what its status is…. And for Palestinians, the olive tree is a kind of lifeblood for their culture. The fresh oil, after filtering, becomes a golden liquid poured into jugs to be taken home. The square operates as an open-air synagogue, with men and women separated by a barrier. MTME offers customizable, boutique-size trips allowing participants to immerse themselves in a tapestry of sacred stories with the people whose passion binds them to the land. Different rabbis set standards of how their followers should be dressed. You know, the mountains are hilly; you need the terraces to plant on them. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, The city of Ramallah functions as the de facto capital of Palestine. Much of Jaffa — historically an important Arab town — was destroyed in 1948 — in what Israelis call their "War of Independence.". It's a "fence" to an Israeli and a "wall" to a Palestinian. Knowing people like Husam, you become more tuned in to the ramifications America's policies in this region have on real people. All: L'chaim! 22:02 I will be touring Israel the last of January 2019 with a Church group. The traditional technique survives — though boosted by hard-working machinery — as a busy crew in oil-soaked shirts meets the demands of the harvest season. Our goal? Two-thirds of Palestinian people became refuges in 1948, dispersed in 59 refugee camps, and most of them have these old, rusty keys for doors that do not exist anymore. And there's the wall — begun in 2003 by Israel to defend its border with the West Bank. While I found most Israelis look and live as contemporary as any modern American, there are corners where traditions are very strong. Benny Dagan, a former PR man for the Israeli military, was our guide in Israel. Rick: More than? More often than not I would say yes, I want to broach this. And the commerce enlivening the main street of the camp is like that of a town. We had a lot of discussions about what we should name the show, and especially what we should call the West Bank, Palestine, Occupied Territories, whatever you might want to call it. They were all very helpful. Tells me this is Palestine. I'm Rick Steves. Posted by girllearningtotravel on 11/05/17 02:19 AM. Living in the US, chances are we are more likely to hear one narrative over the other. While all Palestinians are Arabs, not all Palestinians are Muslims. Kamal: I'm sure you have a thousand dollars in your bank account. It was so interesting for me to be talking to Palestinians and Israelis. Their journey culminates at the site of Jesus' crucifixion — marked by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Calvary Hill, or "Golgotha.". The settlements for sure they don't help. Posted by mattkathleen on 09/29/14 05:59 PM. It's Israel; everything is Israel. If you're going to go to the Holy Land, it's not a balanced experience without actually sleeping in Israel and actually sleeping in Palestine. At the same time, we didn't want to be clinically detached. Along with all the market activity and commerce comes high security and tension. Kamal: You know that daily there are settlements [they] are building, there is, the wall is being built, and the Palestinians don't do anything about it. Wandering these lanes, I can't imagine living in such dense population…the lack of privacy…being a parent with children and little money…the frustration of an uncertain future. ISRAEL THE BEAUTIFUL! My history goes back not to the…to the line, whatever the line is, my history goes back thousands of years and in my history this is part of Israel. Inside, you feel the history. This is especially evident in places of worship and in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. I chatted with several settlers to get their perspectives. Our goal as TV producers was to produce a show that people would enjoy watching from beginning to end without slamming the door and thinking we are just "agenda" journalists. It would be a great help to me if someone could tell me what artist this is, or maybe just the title of the song. Rick: My hunch is they've learned that there [is] only one future and that is to respect Israel and not be violent. Holy as this spot is for Muslims, it's controlled by Israel, and residents of Palestine are generally not allowed to worship here. Watch the interview. After 30 minutes with Husam, you'll feel like you have a friend in Palestine. But I don't know, I don't know how easy it's going to be. While one man's terrorist may be another man's freedom fighter, the fact is, in recent decades, both sides have suffered terribly — Israeli Jews have been killed by Palestinians and Palestinians have been killed by Israelis. And the only way to get that is to find Israelis and Palestinians to talk to you. Thanks for joining us. Here in the Muslim Quarter, a bustling and labyrinthine marketplace is popular with local Arabs. Further up the coast is the 12th-century Crusader town of Akko. Rick: And what does that…? Whether coming together at the Square of the Lions…or browsing down a stylish shopping street…Ramallah helps me envision a peaceful and prosperous Palestine of the future. Among the many refugee camps in the West Bank, the biggest — with over 20,000 people — is Balata, just outside of Nablus. It's famous as the place where Jesus did his three years of ministry, and where so many Bible stories were set — from loaves and fishes, and the Sermon on the Mount, to Christ walking on water. They call this place Temple Mount, believe it to be the center of the earth, and have worshipped here for 3,000 years. Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Beyond Europe / Tel Aviv/Holy Land; Please sign in to post. What we wanted to do was introduce issues that were complicated, that most people didn't appreciate, and let people with a different narrative share their take on it. And most of those live here in Bethlehem. Benny is an expert on both historical and cultural issues, and gifted at explaining the Israeli perspective on the region's troubles. For me, no Holy Land visit is complete or balanced without crossing the wall and learning from both narratives — Israeli and Palestinian. Israel is developing settlements — fortified communities on the tops of hills — deep into the West Bank. I love you. Terms of Service | Privacy, Watch the Director's Cut without commentary, Bethlehem's Mix of Christians and Muslims, The Holy Land: Israelis and Palestinians Today. Here, the Church of the Nativity is built upon the spot believed to be where Jesus was born. 2 Replies to ““Rick Steves’ The Holy Land”: Directors’ Cut with Commentary” Arnie Voigt says: January 31, 2017 at 8:34 pm Thanks for the director’s cut perspective, Rick! In Israel, we go from the venerable ramparts of Jerusalem to the vibrant modern skyline of Tel Aviv. While the state of Israel is young, the Jewish people have a history here going back 4,000 years. I doubt it. I’m back from the Holy Land and ready to put my focus back on Europe. For the Muslims, Jesus is their second important prophet. This is something special: This we call tabbouleh. This is Palestine. Hi, I’m Rick Steves, back with more travels. Rick: Free women with a good future. To be together, to be one unite, you know, and this our victory to us, for us to keep together, to stay together, and never let them make us feel at the end that — yes — to accept the idea that we are the bad guys. Meet the Middle East fosters relationships between the US and Middle East through education and immersion travel for students, adults, and businesses. Many assume that Palestinian or Arab Christians were converted in modern times. There are lots of refugees in Palestine who fled Israel after the state of Israel was created, but, of course, there were also a lot of Jewish refugees created during the tumult that brought along the modern state of Israel. Throughout the world, there are refugee camps like this. Just five miles from the Dome of the Rock is a checkpoint in the wall where I can walk from Jerusalem right into Bethlehem. Tel Aviv/Holy Land. And, in the 16th century, after the return of Muslim dominance, the Ottoman Turks surrounded Jerusalem with this mighty wall. Nearly all 18-year-olds do time in the military. And Jerusalem is the most contested city within this contested land. If you want peace, if you want a two-state solution, help us achieving that, you know. I never felt at risk anywhere in the Holy Land during this production. These people were very helpful. From connecting with students at a Palestinian university and visiting with Zionist settlers whose claim to the land goes back to Biblical times to bobbing like a cork in the Dead Sea and roasting coffee with Bedouin nomads, Rick helps us understand the fascinating spectrum of people who call this region home and struggle to share it peacefully. There is a passion for peace, and I think there is hope for peace. We visited with students at Birzeit University, the leading university in Palestine, to discuss what it's like for a young person — particularly a young woman — to live in the West Bank. Kamal: Yes, exactly, and that's why she's very important for them. It's made of bulgur and parsley and cucumbers. He's a young, modern, and well-educated Palestinian who believes in nonviolence and in dignity for Palestine. Husam can work as a guide in Israel and Palestine, and charges $220 per day without a car and about $100 more per day with a car (depending on West Bank itinerary). Within minutes they can lock down and isolate every Palestinian city. The consensus of the people we met in the West Bank, across the board, is that violence is a mistake. For the last year, my usual laser focus on Europe has been diverted with preparation for our Holy Land shoot. Today's vistas feel timeless. With its international professionals and university students, Ramallah has an almost cosmopolitan energy you feel nowhere else in Palestine. In fact, a small minority are Arab Christians. Rick: What do you hope for? I wanted to talk to all kinds of people, and come away with some empathy and a better understanding for the different narratives. Here — at what's called the Western Wall — Jews mourn a horrible past, and pray for a better future. And the 20th century has left reminders of a determined struggle that built today's modern Jewish state. To understand and enjoy the people who love this land and call it home. Holding the Torah high, joyous families celebrate at the most holy place in Judaism. I just love the opportunity to go over there and witness all the complexity and contradictions at close range. In ancient times the Roman Emperor named it the "New City" — that's "Neapolis," or "Nablus.". In fact, for over a thousand years, a mosque has also stood on Nativity Square. While I wouldn't recommend traveling to Gaza, the West Bank and Israel are wide open. This is Palestine, Rick. My work is to go to places and report on them so people can be comfortable, traveling there smartly, efficiently, economically, and in a way that broadens their perspective. On both sides of the wall you feel the religious passion, the historical suffering, and the national pride. We would talk to people in the markets in Jerusalem. I would oftentimes ask them, "What do you hope for your children?" We filmed several insightful interviews with both Israelis and Palestinians that have never seen the light of day…until now. Along with Christians, Muslims also consider this a holy site. In Israel, we'll explore Jerusalem, and learn some of the religious customs and ideas that shape society here. France It was very important for our show to shine a light on the settlements to find out why people live there. 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