Historically, Samaritans were a large community — up to more than a million in late Roman times, but were then gradually reduced to several tens of thousands up to a few centuries ago — their dramatic demographic shrinkage has been a result of various historical events, including, most notably, the bloody suppression of the Third Samaritan Revolt (529 AD) against the Byzantine Christian rulers, and the mass conversion to Islam in the Early Muslim period of Palestine.
According to their tally, there were 745 Samaritans as of November 30, 2011, living exclusively in two localities, one in Kiryat Luza on Mount Gerizim, and the other in the Israeli city of Holon.
Updated Dec 24, 2011
Based on the Samaritan Torah, Samaritans claim their worship is the true religion of the ancient Israelites prior to the Babylonian Exile, preserved by those who remained in the Land of Israel.
Written Dec 24, 2011
you can visit israeli settlements,which is politically uncorrect;never speak in hebrew with arab population and never say you are jewish;when you are with israelis,say that you are jewish and that you want to keep judea and samaria
Written Aug 24, 2002
Favorite thing: I am probably the only tourist in the world having visited nablus ; nobody never goes there , except fanatic anti-western and anti-jewish and anti-american tourists who go there to support the palestinians
Written Sep 1, 2007
Favorite thing: Nablus can be a fantastic city you know. There is an old center with lots of shops and fruit sellers, full of life and amazing when it's sunny and everybody is out.
But it can be hell too when the israelian army decide to invade the city and have a little training on alive civilian targets. So take care not to be at the wrong place when they start coming with the tanks and jeeps, when the israelian snipers start shooting from the mountain just above, when soldiers come into the houses and bomb the houses...
Fondest memory: Take care while crossing the street, you know, soldiers don't ask people to hold hands before shooting...
Written Mar 16, 2003
Comments