Israel’s takeover of the mountain ranges and peaks throughout the West Bank did not overlook sites traditionally sanctified by Palestinians – these sites were annexed to Jewish settler-colonies by means of Israeli military edicts, and have been included in the army’s maneuver areas, in official Israeli nature reserves and archeological sites and digs.

The list of holy men who had tombs and Maqam sites named after them is long. Maqam names are taken from the Qur’an, the Bible, the New Testament and from local model personages, and all Maqam sites are sanctified by Muslims without distinction.

The information presented in this survey was gathered during volunteer shifts of MachsomWatch by Hanna Zohar, Tzvia Shapira, Riki Shaked Trainin, Nurit Popper and Irit Segoli

Text: Irit Segoli and Nurit Popper 
Legal background: Attorney Netta Amar-Shiff
Photography: Amikam Shuv, Gideon Sulimani, Anthya Sadeh, Nurit Popper and Irit Segoli
Graphic design: Idit Kasheles of Pickles Design
Hebrew language editor: Noa Shalitin
English translation: Tal Haran

Download the research (PDF)