Nablus is the largest town on the West Bank. Situated 67 Kms north of Jerusalem, 570 m above sea level in the valley between the biblical Mount Ebal (called in Arabic Jabal Sitt Sulaymiyya) and Mount Gerizim (Jabal alTur), it lies in one of the most fertile and scenic areas of the country. In the mouth of the only east-west pass at the centre of an ancient road system and with a plentiful water supply, it is the natural capital of the mountain region of northem Palestine.

The surrounding land is notable for its olive groves and orchards, including figs, walnuts, apricots, mulberries, pomegranates and vines, with a few date palms. Nearly all tourist guidebooks describe Nablus as having litte of interest to offer. Yet the town boasts almost two millennia of continuous history, with buildings from Roman to Ottoman times, shrines of biblical prophets, bath-houses, palaces and soap factories where soap is still made in the traditional way, all set amid the colourful bustle of a typical Middle Eastern market town.

The town has grown dramatically in the past century. At the end of the nineteenth century a popu ation of about 10,000 lived entirely within the old city, the historic core of Nablus Much of the present population of 130,000 lives outside the old city in new villas on the mountain slopes. Although many people still come to the old city to shop and to attend Friday prayers, many of the old buildings have become neglected and have fallen into disrepair.