A Shared Pilgrimage Road in Israel and Palestine: From Utopia to Reality

Abstract

Most pilgrimages on foot are not a journey undertaken for comfort. Pilgrims going on foot are challenged in multiple forms. Probably to have the physical energy to accomplish the distances of each pilgrimage day is a common goal, also having time to reflect and to meditate is a common characteristic, independent from each pilgrim’s religious belief. Along the Way pilgrims live ‘slow’ experiences, involving themselves with what surrounds them. In those occasions, for most pilgrims, there is an opportunity for better understanding the importance of living in peace in a common world. Having in mind the Israeli-Palestinian geographic area, the numerous holy places which are important for the Abrahamic religions, and the sustainable development of rural areas, this paper emphasises the importance of developing a Pilgrimage Road (for pilgrimages on foot) in these regions. Most times a Pilgrimage Route is only linked to a specific religious belief. The one to be proposed would possibly be one of the very few pilgrimage ways shared by different religions; in this case, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, or in other words, shared by the Abrahamic religions.

Keywords

• pilgrimage on foot
• development of pilgrimage trails
• Israeli-Palestinian area
• understanding other
• sustainable territorial development