Jerusalem’s leather market is one of city’s most famous markets that is located in the Old City close to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Dating back to the Ottoman era the market was known for its distinguished craftsmen who primarily worked in leather tanning and manufacturing.
Palestinian researcher Najeh Bkeirat told the PIC reporter that gift and antique shops and restaurants targeting tourist groups now occupy the largest part of the market at the expense of leather shops.
Famous market
Bkeirat called on the Palestinian citizens to visit the leather market regularly to strengthen the steadfastness of Jerusalemite shop owners there.
Hijazi al-Resheq the head of Jerusalem Merchants Committee told the PIC reporter that the leather market was one of the largest and most famous markets in Jerusalem.
Al-Resheq said that Jerusalem’s leather market was frequented by people from other provinces because of its various goods especially those related to marriage preparations such as clothes dresses bags shoes and jewelry.
He added that following the 1967 war after the evacuation of many Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem the market has become almost empty of shoppers.
Commercial collapse
Al-Resheq said that the commercial expansion that happened in Jerusalem over the years limited the purchasing power in the leather market. A few number of merchants remained in their place while many others were forced to open new shops outside the leather market or outside the Old City.
He said that one-third of the leather market’s shops is now closed adding that a significant shift has been witnessed in the place as many shops were turned into restaurants and cafes.
Al-Resheq noted that the economic situation in Jerusalem markets is completely dependent on foreign tourist groups visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. These groups usually come to Jerusalem with the help of Israeli companies that determine their visit program. Therefore tourists cannot tour or shop freely in Jerusalem in general and the leather market in particular.
Closed shops
Al-Resheq affirmed that the leather market is only active for two or three months in the year especially in April when hundreds of Christian pilgrims come to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to celebrate Easter. However commercial recession is the case during the rest of the year.
He expressed regret over the increasing number of closed shops in the leather market because of the bad commercial situation and the low purchasing power.
He also stressed that the market needs urgent support and many shops need to be repaired since they have been closed for years. He added that the leather market’s merchants have no problem reopening their shops but they are unable to afford the restoration cost.
