PANORAMIC VIEW of PALESTINIAN TERRITORY in the WEST BANK @ Mt. GUERIZIM, (overlooking Nablus city). The top of the mountain hosts the community of Kiryat Luza, one of the only two Samaritan communities left in the world. The Samaritans are an ancient offshoot of Judaism who believe that Mount Gerizim, and not the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, is the location of the Holy of the Holies. The Samaritans of Nablus hold both Palestinian and Israeli ID cards and historically have had good relations with both the Palestinians and the Israelis (they are also represented in the Nablus Municipality). The Palestinians of Nablus revere the Samaritans alleged ability to predict the future with palm readings by using the Samaritan holy books. Kiryat Luza offers tours of their community and even has a gift shop. Genetic studies have made the hypothesis that much of Nablus Palestinian population are originally Samaritan who converted to Islam at the time of the Muslim conquest of the Holy Land.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 18:58:05 +0000
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