Horse races resumed in the village of Al-Majd — Asharq Al-Awsat
In Palestine, in the village of Al-Majd in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, west of Hebron, annual Arabian horse races were held after a two-year break. The competition had been suspended for two years amid the war in Gaza, but the tradition was revived this week despite the tense situation in the region, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Races among rocky hills
After the starting shot, riders set off along a winding dirt track running through rocky terrain. Residents cheered along the course and from the rooftops of houses. After the competition ended, supporters surrounded the winner and raised the trophies above the crowd.
Event coordinator Ismail Abu Awad said that organizers lack the financial and logistical resources to support riders, so they try to provide them with whatever assistance they can. According to him, the races were intended to preserve the Arab cultural heritage cherished by the ancestors of local residents.
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Equestrian tradition and riders’ travel
Arabian horses hold special significance for Palestinian culture. Races and horse beauty championships are held in the West Bank, with participants arriving from different cities and villages.
At the same time, there is increasingly less open land in the region amid the expansion of Israeli settlements in territory occupied by Israel since 1967. Abu Awad noted that it is difficult for some horses and riders to travel to Jordan or other countries, meaning local jockeys cannot easily take part in international competitions.
One of the race participants, Mohammed Al-Ajlouni, said that he dreams of going to Italy to ride horses.
