Abraham AlterNarrative Tours | Kholoud Abu Ahmad

The Abraham Alternative sustainable tours are the brainchild of activist and SFP Leadership in Mixed Cities course graduate, Kholoud Abu Ahmad, in collaboration with her Jewish partner, Maoz Ynon. In these tours, participants hear the stories of mixed cities from local perspectives, facilitating understanding, strengthening local economies, and promoting involvement by uncovering the repressed narratives of Palestinians.

Kholoud – in the middle in green – giving a tour in Haifa

For example, one of Abu Ahmad’s favorite landmarks in the Nazareth tour is the “Nakba Wall”: a wall at the entrance to the Old City on which younger people habitually spray paint graffiti telling the story of the Nakba, despite being repeatedly painted over by the city. In May 2022, a portrait of Palestinian journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot dead by Israeli soldiers, appeared on the wall, only to be erased after the war broke out. There, Abu Ahmad told us that “We can’t share this space until we learn to listen to all the national stories in this space, since the key to cooperation is recognition. Hence, I insist on telling my own and my people’s story, just like the persistent, brave young people who resist the censorship of the authorities.”

Abu Ahmad says that her SFP experience helped her “understand aspects of mixed cities that are actively occluded, and the special challenges they face,” and that it gave her “tools to act more comprehensively in the community.” Kholoud has always been politically active. As a child, she demanded gender equality between siblings at home, and as a student she led the Palestinian opposition to Sefad’s head Rabbi calling not to rent apartments to Palestinian students, for which she paid the heavy price of expulsion. As an SFP graduate, she continues to invest in activities that combat silencing and promote justice and equality.

SFP team next to The Nakba Wall, Nazareth, November 2022

The Nakba Wall, Nazareth, November 2023

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