Khalil Assali

2 weeks ago | jerusalemstory.com | Khalil Assali |Daoud Kuttab

As he does every year, Abu Mahmoud, a 34-year-old Palestinian resident from Jerusalem’s Ras al-Amud neighborhood, headed to a nearby butcher to purchase meat for the Eid al-Adha sacrificial tradition. He was deeply disappointed when he learned that 1 kg of lamb meat without fat had reached NIS 140 ($40), while 1 kg of meat with fat costs NIS 120 ($34). Like many other families in Jerusalem, Abu Mahmoud usually buys a large quantity of meat for Eid, but this year he decided to only buy 1.5 kg.

Mar 20, 2025 | jerusalemstory.com | Khalil Assali |Daoud Kuttab

Umm Yazan, a Jerusalem resident from Wadi al-Joz, insists on gathering her family for an iftar meal at al-Aqsa Mosque at least once a week. She says she does it to deepen her children’s connection to the mosque, which she describes as the heart of every Jerusalemite. Umm Yazan shared with Jerusalem Story the history of the Palestinian rice and meat dish, maqluba, a popular meal in many Jerusalem households. Maqluba is part of the regular customs of the city’s residents.

Mar 18, 2025 | jerusalemstory.com | Khalil Assali |Daoud Kuttab

Munther Jamal, a young man from the Sa‘adia neighborhood in Jerusalem’s Old City, decided to embark on a new experience—his first attempt at running a business. During the month of Ramadan, he set up a small stall at Bab al-Asbat, the main and most important entrance for visitors to enter the Old City from elsewhere in Jerusalem and beyond.

Feb 20, 2025 | jerusalemstory.com | Khalil Assali |Daoud Kuttab

Israel’s antipathy for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) prompted the Israeli parliament to pass two laws aimed at crippling the functioning of UNRWA across the occupied West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and Gaza.1The laws set a deadline of January 29, 2025 for the termination of UNRWA’s services in East Jerusalem. As of mid-February 2025, however, most of UNRWA's facilities are still operating.

Jan 26, 2025 | jerusalemstory.com | Khalil Assali |Daoud Kuttab

The price of coffee in Jerusalem has risen insanely,” said Mustafa Ahmad, 65. “An ounce of coffee used to cost 14 shekels, but now it has now reached [from] 14 to 20 shekels. This cannot be accepted.”1 Carrying a bag of ground coffee whose warm aroma surrounded him, he made a strong complaint about the rise in cost. He did not plan to stop drinking coffee, he told Jerusalem Story, but he would have to reduce his daily coffee intake.