Cultural Tourism Program fieldtrip and Workshop
“Battir and Nahaleen”
On Monday March 30th,2009 the AEI
Women’s group went to a field trip to Battir
and Nahaleen where they attended extensive
workshops related to the Cultural Tourism
Program and on the occasion of the Land Day
(Yaom Al Ard). The trip started in Battir
where we went to a tour around the village
guided by Um Jawad Al Butmeh from Battir
Women’s Association along with Battir school
principal who showed us the Roman ruins of
the ancient water irrigation system, the
train line that cuts into the heart of
Battir and leads to Israel which
Palestinians can’t use, and the beautiful
nature around. She also explained about the
history of Battir and the important role her
father Hassan Mustafa played in the 1967 war
to preserve the land.
Afterwards, we headed to Nahaleen and started
our tour with a visit to the Tent of
Nations. Where we heard about the Nasser’s
family constant Sumud against the Israeli
occupation and Settlers. Mr. Daoud Nassar
explained about their critical situation and
constant struggle for their land and the
constant attempts to confiscate and impose
hardships on the Nassar family in order for
them to leave. And how so far he is still
going to courts to defend his lands which he
has legal documentations for it from the
Ottoman occupation. After hearing the
Nassar family story, Dr. Sulaiman Al Luci
gave a music workshop and training on the
Oud, singing unique traditional songs with
the Women. Dr. Luci accompanied us along the
way and he gave several trainings in music.
Later, Sheikh Ismail Ibrahim showed us around
the village. Through the tour we saw the
places were some Sufis used to stay (maqamat),
recieved vows from people- and offered
healings and any problem solving in return.
We saw one of the oldest oak trees from the
Roman times, and visited a cave where it
used to be an Olive press.
We later continued our way to Dr. Omar
Shakarneh’s house where he had prepared
meals for the women’s group and the women
thanked him with traditional trills and
songs, in return for his unique hospitality.
The trip continued with lectures from Sheikh
Ismail Ibrahim about ‘ Symbols of Peace in
Islam’ how in many parts of the Quran
explain how to treat one another and that
peace is an important part of the religion.
As for Dr. Omar Shakarneh he explained about
the ‘meaning of Sufism’, the Sufis, their
rituals and gave examples of Sufi’s who used
to live in Nahaleen and how wise and
religious they were.
