Hiking the Abraham Path in the Israeli Negev
Another long-distance cultural path in the region, the Abraham Path, was initiated by Harvard University’s Global Negotiation Project in 2007. The path aims to recreate the journey of Abraham, father of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, leaving his homeland of Ur/Ufa, traveling to Canaan and to his final resting place in Hebron. Goals of the Path include providing economic benefit to towns and village along the trail and encouraging increased understanding between diverse people.
Though there is not yet a contiguous trail, the general route includes Iran, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel, with other future segments planned for Egypt and Saudia Arabia.
So far, segments of the Abraham Path are open in Turkey, Jordan and Palestine, which can be walked with a guide. For more information, see www.abrahampath.org, and http://abrahamspath.org.uk (UK Friends of Abraham’s Path).
- Turkey (Hazreti Ibrahim Kultur Yolu)
- 150 kilometers in the Sanliurfa area
- http://www.abrahamspathturkey.org/
- Syria (Masar Al Thaqafi al Suri)
- Also known as the Syrian Cultural Route, and the Monastery Trail, from Deir Mar Musa to Damascus, walks currently not being organized
- Jordan (Masar Ibrahim al Khalil)
- 56 kilometer trail identified
- Shorter section also known as Al-Ayoun Trail (the springs)
- Palestine (Masar Ibrahim al Khalil)
- 180 kilometer section is being developed from Nablus to Hebron
- http://masaribrahim.ps/
- Israel (Netiv Abraham)
- 60 kilometers being developed from Har Amasa to Beersheva in the Negev Desert
More information: See a TED video by William Ury about the trail: http://www.ted.com/talks/william_ury.html
