RAMALLAH, West Bank — As the temperature drops during the cold months of December and January, Ramallah's al-Haddadin Street — Arabic for blacksmiths — teems with life. This is the selling season for blacksmiths, who own the shops lining this street, since the demand peaks for handmade metal chimneys, as well as other furnishings for homes, restaurants and hotels.
Despite the modernity of the central West Bank city of Ramallah — a political, economic and cultural center — the workers of al-Haddadin Street still adamantly preserve their craft. They manage to preserve their identity and cultural heritage and also take into consideration modern designs that keep pace with industrial progress and the needs of Palestinians.