Tourism development in Ibrahim's hospitality tent

The dream that Ibrahim conceived about fifteen years ago involved weaving pegs and sheets and became a tent for hospitality in Khan al-Ahmar.

Ibrahim taught himself tourism, working at summer camps in Ein Hamed about twenty years ago, where he acquired his Hebrew. He later sold souvenirs in Nabi Musa, and provided tourists with photo opportunities on a decorated camel on Almog Beach, in the northern Dead Sea. When the difficulties of making a living increased, he decided to bring tourism home, to Khan al-Ahmar.

Years of fundraising, obtaining permits, and struggling with Palestinian bureaucracy ended about two years ago with the erection of the tent, but last winter its roof collapsed. Ibrahim did not give up, and with the help of equipment raised by the activists at Friends of Jahalin, the tent was re-erected.

Ibrahim offers accommodation and a variety of traditional, vegetarian and meat meals, which his wife is responsible for. Among the visitors are Israelis and tourists - individual travelers and groups, Jewish youth from abroad, families seeking the peace of the desert and direct acquaintance with the tribe. In order to promote Ibrahim's project, we hold events and workshops for the general public at the hospitality camp.

Dr. Yaron Ovadia, one of the founders of our group, researches Bedouin communities in the Judean Desert and is familiar with Ibrahim's project. He brings training courses for guides and tour guides to the site, who spend the night in a tent and go on jeep trips during the day among the Jahalin communities spread out in the desert and to sites in the Dead Sea region. Dr. Ovadia says that the villagers support the project and receive the guests with friendliness.