Travel to West Bank: Nablus 2: the New City

Like Ramalla, Bethlehem, and Hebron, Nablus has grown immensely since the 1930s. The additions of that time were stylish, but the last fifty years have not added much, if anything, that is beautiful or even interesting. Of course there are explanations, but the Palestinians are left with cities that are going to be very, very tough to humanize.

Make default image size larger

A view of Nablus taken from the slopes of Mt. Gerizim northward toward Mt. Ebal. The Old City is the flattish patch in the center.

Taken from the same site as the previous picture, but this time of the apartment buildings that have spread up the slope of Mt. Gerizim.

Imposing controls in the name of historic preservation won't come easily to Nablus, even though its future prosperity would almost certainly be greater if the historic character of the city could be preserved.

A view of the business center, mostly built during the Jordanian period (1949-67).

An Art Deco building of that era and in need of some maintenance.