RAMALLAH, West Bank — The city of Nablus in the northern West Bank is famous for its soap industry, and some historians believe the craft originated there more than 1,000 years ago. Soap is a hallmark of the city and of Palestine, which once exported soap products globally.
Moaz al-Nabulsi, 67, is the son of the late Hassan al-Nabulsi, a name well-known in the soap industry. The Nabulsi family once owned more than 20 soap factories in Nablus.