Behind a huge statue of Al-Amoud Gate one of the gates of the Old City of Jerusalem a group of Jerusalemite women brought the scent of Jerusalem to Nablus for its lovers to enjoy.
Some 43 Jerusalemite women traveled to Nablus carrying handcrafts they made to be presented at Al-Amoud Gate Festival which is hosted by the Hamdi Minko Cultural Center of the Municipality of Nablus for three consecutive days.
The festival which opened on Saturday (7/7/2018) includes traditional handicrafts ranging from embroideries ornaments perfumes soap antiques textiles and popular food.
In the center of the festival’s hall a traditional cart displaying the famous Jerusalem cookies is located where visitors are able to enjoy the atmosphere of Jerusalem and its old alleys.
According to Fatima Abed Rabbo the coordinator of the Maqdisyat group the body that organizes the festival “Every year the group organizes a festival of the products of Jerusalem in the city itself but this year the group decided to go out to the rest of the cities in the West Bank.”
She added “We found that Jerusalem is closed in the face of our people in the West Bank who cannot access it because of the occupation and at the same time we have wonderful products that we can’t sell inside Jerusalem so we thought to bring some of these products to the entire West Bank.”
She explained that she presented the idea of this festival to the Municipality of Nablus which in turn adopted it and provided them with all facilities most notably the show hall and a place to stay.
Moral and economic support
The festival’s organizers hope to gain moral and economic support that strengthens the steadfastness of Jerusalemites in their city which is threatened by Judaization.
“Through these exhibitions we are trying to find new markets for our products outside the walls of Jerusalem and to connect with the rest of the women in the West Bank” says Abed Rabbo.
She pointed out that the reason behind choosing Al-Amoud Gate as a name for this festival was because this gate is the most prominent among Jerusalem’s gates and its symbolic representation of Jerusalem and its markets.
Palestinian heritage under threat
The festival has a cultural dimension in the face of the relentless efforts of the Israeli occupation to Judaize Jerusalem by all possible means and forms.
The mayor of Nablus Adli Yaish who participated in the opening of the festival said that Jerusalem was and will remain the focus of the conflict with the occupation which is waging a cultural war against the Palestinians and is stealing the Palestinian heritage and displaying it as a Jewish heritage in the world.
At one corner of the festival Khalida Issa and her sister were selling hand-made soap which is made from natural plant ingredients such as roses ginger and oats without using chemical ingredients that has harmful side effects.
The Issa sisters pointed out that they usually market their products through social media outlets and through shops noting that this is the first time they participate in a festival outside Jerusalem.
Ghada Al-Imam who displays traditional Palestinian embroideries and accessories hopes that her products will find acceptance in Nablus.
She told the PIC reporter that she had previously participated in several festivals in and outside Jerusalem but this is the first time she participates in a festival in Nablus.
She concluded “We are marketing our products through social media outlets but we lack an authority that adopt and support us in light of the restrictions imposed by the occupation against the people of Jerusalem.”
