New hikers had participated on this walk, along with other previous Weekly Walk hikers. As we started walking, the path was mostly paved and people of Burqin were all around us. Step by step we started to enter the fields of the village and the winding roads to head towards the village of Arraba. Our excitement and enthusiasm grew stronger as we moved forward to witness the beautiful old antiquities from the ottoman era, the irresistible views of mountains and hills, and the amazing plains and valleys all around us, making it hard for anyone to resist taking pictures and having the chance to run and breathe the fresh air of the villages.

The most prominent view in this path was the view of the Tobacco Plants. Jenin is full of this plant and one can walk miles watching fields full of Tobacco that some of it is newly grown and other is dry and need harvesting. One of the main reasons behind implanting this plant is that it does not require a lot of water. Originally, Jenin is famous of the abundance of rain. However, the existence of Israel has prevented them from a normal access to water and sanitation. The people of Jenin area drill on the surface aquifer for excavation of water. Normally, the surface aquifer does not affect the deep aquifer if you drill for water, but Israelis consider it as illegal wells, and they take it as a justification for not giving free access to water and sanitation, and they demand the Palestinians to close it.

We passed from a small village called Alhashmeyya, which is located to the west of Jenin, and that has big beautiful mountain called Alhashmeyya Mountain. Leen, a partipant from Norway, said that the places we are crossing and the views and landscapes that we see are so beautiful. She said that “it is amazing how you come from the city where you are stuck in the city world and all of a sudden you are up here in the hills, and you have the view, you have the fresh air, you feel totally refreshed- totally new”.

Lunchtime was a great time for us to gather and have a great conversation with the diverse group of hikers. Still, what made it amazingly perfect is the hosting and hospitality that we’ve received from the Mardawi family in the village of Arraba. This family has a beautiful house in a wonderful location in Arraba that has a dazzling view of the entire village. They have a guesthouse up in the roof of their house for internationals and local tourists to spend the night there. The place is quiet and clean and has an irresistible overlook. As soon as we entered, we found them almost done with preparing the food, which was Msakhan (bread with onions and chickens). It was very tasty and everyone loved it so much. We gathered on the balcony and they served us tea and coffee with some sweet and we had a wonderful time there.

Last but not least, we visited the old town of Arraba, which traces back to the ottoman period. The local guide took us on a tour around the old buildings and told us some of the stories about the owner and the ancient history of the town. Alsheikh Abd Al Hadi who owned the fifth of Palestine’s area back in the ottoman era owned this old town. This Sheikh had a palace that was named after him and that had a secret structural system that was designed for people to have secret gates to escape from the enemies in the wartime.

This time we had local participants aside to the internationals, which is a great accomplishment and a very good step forward for people of Palestine in one hand, and for the Palestine Heritage Trail on the other hand. Two young people from Jerusalem, Mohammad Abu Gharbieh and Nour Sinnokrot, said that this hike was a new experience for them. They said that it was very exciting and that they got to know new information about their own land in addition to knowing new places and areas that they have never seen or known about before. They have also mentioned that they observed how calm and simple these villages are and that people here have serenity and peace of mind. He encourages all young people and old ones as well to have these experiences and adventures by participating with Palestine Heritage Trail Weekly Walks, because it will definitely give them a whole new horizon about Palestine, and it would be of a great benefit to their health too.