RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinians have long sported the checkered black-and-white keffiyeh with pride as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism. This emblem of heritage and rebellion, also used by other countries in the region — from Iraq to Turkey — has inspired poems, songs, political slogans, cartoons and even high fashion. Finally, the Hebron governorate decided to ensure its place in the Guinness World Records 2019 by creating the largest keffiyeh ever.

Next year, the governorate will mobilize both public and private institutions to create a 5,000-square-meter (53,820-square-feet) keffiyeh at its Dura International Stadium, in the presence of a delegation from the Guinness World Records on Nov. 16, National Keffiyeh Day.

The first rehearsal to this end was realized this year in Hebron governorate by exhibiting the largest Palestinian keffiyeh of 1,400 square meters (15,070 square feet) at the Yasser Arafat School for Boys in the town of Dura, 11 kilometers (7 miles) southwest of Hebron city, with the participation of several students from nearby schools, on the occasion of Independence and Loyalty Week and National Keffiyeh Day.

This event, which was organized by the Directorate of Education in southern Hebron, was a first step to weave the largest keffiyeh in the world, which at 5,000 square meters would be nearly three times as large as the one displayed at the school last month, and set a mark recognized by the Guinness World Records.