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Palestine Atlas

Nablus

Basic Information

Type
City
Governorate
Nablus
Region
West Bank - Northern

Overview

Nablus (ancient Shechem, Roman Neapolis) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the cultural, economic, and commercial heart of the northern West Bank. Situated between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it has been a center of Palestinian industry, trade, and education for centuries. Since the Israeli occupation began in 1967, Nablus has been systematically targeted by settlement expansion, most notably by Itamar, Elon Moreh, and Yitzhar settlements on its eastern and southern perimeters. These colonies have confiscated thousands of dunams of Nablus's agricultural land. The city endured devastating sieges during both Intifadas and was repeatedly invaded by the Israeli military, particularly the Old City and surrounding refugee camps. Multiple checkpoints — including Hawara, Beit Furik, and Huwara (Route 60) — have choked the city's economy, restricting movement of goods and people to and from Nablus for years at a time. During the Second Intifada, Nablus was effectively sealed off, with its economy devastated by curfews lasting weeks and months. Despite this, Nablus remains a symbol of Palestinian resilience and cultural pride.

Historical Significance

Ancient Canaanite city of Shechem; Roman city of Neapolis founded by Vespasian; one of Palestine's four Islamic holy cities under Ottoman rule; historic center of olive oil soap production and traditional Palestinian industry; cultural capital of the northern West Bank.

Sources and record limitations

Source detail varies by record. Some entries include document and page references; others supply source names only. Check the cited material and the record's limitations before relying on a specific claim.

  • PCBS (Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics)
  • ARIJ (Applied Research Institute–Jerusalem)
  • UN OCHA
  • PASSIA
  • B'Tselem
  • Palestinian municipal records
  • UNESCO
  • Wikipedia

Population from PCBS 2017. Coordinates from Wikipedia. Nablus is Palestine's cultural and commercial center.