In Occupied West Bank, Palestinian Bloggers See Local Tourism As Defiance

But after its capture by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, the West Bank has also been home to Israeli military bases and checkpoints that restrict Palestinian movement, as well nearly 430,000 Israeli settlers who live among 3 million Palestinians.

Israel cites security concerns for the checkpoints in a volatile area it calls by its biblical name, Judea and Samaria.

Hoping to allay the fears of Palestinians who avoid visiting remote sites, Malak Hasan and Bisan Alhajhasan founded “Ahlan Falasteen” – meaning “Hello Palestine” – a blog and Instagram page offering travel destinations and advice.

“The idea of two young female Palestinians who visit places that people feel are too far, or that might be closed, or are scared because of settlers or Israeli soldiers, we go there to show them that we should not abandon those places,” said Alhajhasan, 32.