Jericho

The First City

Jericho is widely considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Archaeological excavations at Tell es-Sultan reveal evidence of settlement dating back to the Natufian culture, with the first permanent structures appearing around 10,000 BCE. By 8,000 BCE, Jericho was a fortified town with a massive stone wall and a stone tower — among the earliest known fortifications in human history. The inhabitants of this prehistoric period built circular mud-brick houses and engaged in early agriculture, domesticating wheat and barley. The site provides crucial evidence of the Neolithic Revolution — humanity's transition from nomadic hunting to settled farming communities.

Canaanite Jericho

During the Canaanite period, Jericho was a prosperous city-state. The biblical account of the Battle of Jericho — in which the Israelite leader Joshua allegedly caused the city's walls to collapse — has been a subject of archaeological debate. Most scholars believe the biblical narrative was written centuries after the events it describes and is not historically accurate. Archaeological excavations, including those by Kathleen Kenyon in the 1950s, found that Jericho's famous walls collapsed at different times than the biblical account suggests, with some destructions dating to around 1550 BCE — far earlier than the proposed Israelite conquest.

Herodian Jericho

Jericho flourished during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. King Herod the Great built a magnificent winter palace complex at Tulul Abu al-Alayiq, complete with swimming pools, gardens, and reception halls. The city was known for its date palms and balsam groves, which produced highly prized perfumes. Jericho was destroyed during the First Jewish-Roman War (66–73 CE) but was rebuilt as a Roman city. The historian Josephus described Jericho as 'the most fertile part of the country.' The city's thermal springs and subtropical climate made it a popular winter resort for Jerusalem's elite.

Islamic Jericho

Jericho surrendered peacefully to Muslim forces under Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab in the 7th century. Under Umayyad rule, the city area saw the construction of the Hisham's Palace complex (Khirbat al-Mafjar) — one of the most important early Islamic architectural sites in the region, with its stunning mosaics, intricate carvings, and elaborate bathhouse. The Abbasid, Fatimid, and Ayyubid periods saw Jericho maintain its agricultural importance, with extensive terraced farming and irrigation systems. During the Mamluk period, the village of Jericho was a sugar production center, with several sugar mills operating in the surrounding area.

Jordanian Rule

After the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Jericho came under Jordanian administration. The city absorbed a significant number of Palestinian refugees from the areas that became Israel. The 1948 refugees in Jericho and its surrounding camps — including Aqabat Jaber, the largest refugee camp in the West Bank — became a permanent feature of the city's demographics. During this period, Jericho remained a relatively quiet agricultural town, known for its bananas, citrus fruits, and vegetables. The 1949 Jericho Conference was a meeting of Palestinian leaders under Jordanian auspices that called for the unification of the West Bank with Jordan.

Israeli Occupation

Israel captured Jericho during the 1967 Six-Day War. Unlike many other West Bank cities, Jericho did not see extensive Israeli settlement construction in its immediate vicinity, though settlements were built in the surrounding Jordan Valley. The city experienced the daily realities of military occupation — checkpoints, curfews, land confiscation, and restricted movement. Despite this, Jericho maintained its agricultural economy and became a popular destination for Palestinians due to its winter resort attractions, including the Jericho Casino and tourism related to its historical and religious sites.

Palestinian Authority

In 1994, Jericho became the first West Bank city to be transferred to Palestinian Authority control under the Oslo Accords. It was the site of the first Palestinian Authority prison and a symbol of the limited self-rule achieved through the peace process. However, the city remains encircled by Israeli checkpoints, settlements, and military zones. The ongoing occupation continues to restrict Jericho's development, despite its immense tourism potential as one of the world's most historically significant sites. The city's Hisham's Palace and Tell es-Sultan have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage sites, offering a rare economic opportunity if the occupation were to end.