Visit Silwan, Occupied Jerusalem

Join us for a guided Walking Tour!

Buildings of Silwan with Murals

I Witness Silwan artists and members of the Silwan community will treat you to a tour you will never forget! Learn more about the daily realities of Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem and how public art and international solidarity are being used to uplift and advocate for all Palestinian communities.

Music by Georges Lamman

Tree & Bids on Building

What can you expect on an I Witness Silwan tour?

  • We customize each tour based on the requests and interests of your group as well as the amount of time you have available in Silwan. Tours can include visits to both the Wadi Hilweh and Batn al-Hawa neighborhoods. Along the way you will visit various murals as well stops to better understand the impact of settlement expansion and Israeli tourism projects on Silwan.

  • I Witness Silwan muralists and Silwan community leader, Zuheir Rajibi lead our tours. Along the way, we will also stop at various houses, some under demolition orders and others belonging to community members directly impacted by settler expansion in Silwan. Tour members may meet member of these households or interact with other communities members along the way.

  • Our tours give participants the opportunity to learn more about I Witness Silwan’s work and the importance of our murals both to the community of Silwan and also as an international act to amplify voices of resistance and resilience. Learn about how these murals provide an outlet to community members facing unjust eviction and demolition orders and uplift motifs of Palestinian heritage and experience, such as paying homage to Palestinian martyrs, poets, activist, and the relationship to the land. We hope this tour encourages you not only to bear witness to the realities you see but also take action to change them.

  • We center our tours in an area that is undergoing ethnic cleansing, under the guise of ‘heritage’ tourism by Israeli institutions like the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority and right-wing Zionist settler organizations such as Ateret Cohanim and Elad. These organizations are registered as ‘non-profits’ and receive much of their funding from supporters in the USA. With the full backing of the state, Jerusalem Municipality and Civil Administration, these so-called non-profits have built major tourist centers like “Ir David”, meaning “City of David”, on Palestinian land in a neighborhood known by locals as Wadi Hilweh. Israel and its Nature and Parks Authority has renamed Silwan the City of David and receives more than one million tourists a year. Our tours are helping create alternative tourism opportunities!

  • All of our tours include Arabic and English speaking guides. Our guides are also provide translation between English and Arabic to ensure everyone on a tour with I Witness Silwan has the most accurate information.

  • Many groups choose to join us for a meal at the end of the tour. This creates a special opportunity to get to know the community and artist better, enjoy a home cooked meal, and continue to ask questions about the tour itself.

  • It is so important to bring back the experiences you have to your communities and find ways to push to change from home. We are able to offer consultative services on ways to be active upon return to the visitor's communities, help with hosting report backs, and bring the power of the Silwan community to your own.

(click on sections above for more information)


Your Tour Guides

Every tour includes 3 guides!

Jenan Maswadeh from Silwan, occupied Jerusalem, is currently working as an Interior Designer and is also a part of the core team of muralists. She believes art is a means of expression and resistance. In tours, you’ll be able to hear more of her personal stories and what is it like for her to live in Silwan.

Zuhier el Rajabi was born and raised in Silwan. He is the head of the Batan al Hawa committee and directs the Madaa Creative Center Batan al Hawa branch. The Rajabi family continues to fight eviction orders and to help his community to resist.

Manar Shreiteh from Jerusalem, who has lived in Silwan for most of her life before moving to another town, is part of the core team of muralists in Silwan and also acts as a translator for many of our tours. She has worked with I Witness Silwan for three years. Currently, she is studying for a Master's degree in Special Education.


What People Say About Our Tours

“I like the immersive experience of walking + talking about the murals + the situation people are facing on the ground.”

The tour guides were excellent at answering questions and explaining the artwork. I liked how we were able to walk through the area and see everything up close.

Pricing: Sliding Scale

We are asking groups to provide a donation, in the form of honorarium, on a sliding scale based on length of tour, organizational size/resources, and tour size.

Please take your specific requests into consideration when deciding on your budget. If you are adding a Community Lunch, there will be an additional charge that will be calculated once a menu is set.

All donations are tax deductible in the US and will be made to a US based 501(c)3 with proceeds going directly towards the I Witness Silwan project and the Silwan community.

Interested in Booking a Tour?

Please fill out our tour request form with as much
information as possible! Once we receive your i
nformation, we will be in touch ASAP.