My name is Konstantinos Roskas, I come from Greece, but I am currently residing in London, where I undertake work as a lawyer (County Court Advocate). My experience in Hebron has been more than rewarding, considering the cultural and legal heritage of Palestine. From the outset, participants realise how warm and welcoming the Palestinian culture is, not only because of the approachability that it displays, but also because of its great hospitality. As a result, in Palestine, it is not uncommon to get invited to people’s houses for lunch even though you have just met them in a shop.
I had the chance to shadow an experienced Palestinian lawyer, head of the Al-Fahed group, on matters such as real estate, debt actions, and traffic contravention claims. I have visited the First Instance Court of Hebron, the Court of Dura, the Land Registry office in Edna, as well as the Court of Halhoul. I was also impressed when paying a visit to the Sharia Court in the Old City of Hebron for a heritage matter. While in Hebron, I also had the privilege to visit the Rehabilitation Centre, where my shadowing lawyer and I, had a meeting with Mr. Taufik Jahshab, an esteemed lawyer who advocates and undertakes matters for vulnerable Palestinian citizens who have become victims of the Israeli occupation, appealing those matters to as high as the International Court of justice.
While in Palestine, I was able to explore different aspects of the culture, by paying visits to the ceramic and glass factory, the mosque of Patriarch Abraham in the Old City of Hebron and by trying traditional Palestinian dishes, all in the company of friendly Palestinian fellows. I was amazed to find out about Palestine’s history when I approached the Symposium Club of Hebron, where I had a constructive discussion with dedicated historians and researchers.
Although it is not presented as such in the media, Palestine is one of the safest places I have visited so far, especially the city of Hebron, where one is always surrounded by shops and people even at later hours of the evening. The culture and the people are so friendly that visitors never feel threatened by the surroundings, so all in all I would say that Hebron does not differ in the levels of safety from any big city in the West.
I would undoubtedly recommend Palestine and the Palestinian Centre’s programmes to any individuals interested to expand their knowledge and to educate themselves on the matters surrounding the conflict in the region of Palestine, but I would also encourage prospective participants who desire to gain a close approach on matters such as law, human rights and education.
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How to apply or ask for additional information?
To apply to any of our programs: Please send an email to Mr. Tamimi at info@gopalestine.org. Please type the name of the chosen program in the subject line. We will then contact you back!
