In the Old City of Hebron, some traditional Palestinian crafts continue to resist decline, maintaining a fragile presence despite rapid change and a shrinking workforce. Among them is handmade glassmaking, a centuries-old craft passed down through generations, now facing mounting challenges that threaten its continuity and the transfer of skills to younger generations.
Yaqoub Al-Natsheh, owner of the Ard Canaan traditional glass factory, said he continues to practise the trade inherited from his father and grandfather, describing his connection to the craft as rooted in years of experience and family tradition.
“The profession was passed down to me,” Al-Natsheh said, noting that while he has tried to pass it on to his children, a lack of interest among younger generations remains one of the main obstacles to its survival.
He explained that mastering handmade glass production requires years of training and hands-on experience, as the craft depends heavily on manual skill and cannot easily be mechanised or transformed into an industrial process.
Al-Natsheh said he previously worked in another glass factory before leaving, adding that the sector has since suffered from a shortage of skilled artisans, leading to a decline in production and the closure of some workshops.
His experience reflects broader challenges facing traditional Palestinian crafts, particularly the difficulty of attracting younger workers and the growing need for skilled artisans capable of preserving these trades.
Handicrafts, he said, are not merely traditional occupations but form part of cultural identity and collective memory. With fewer practitioners and declining interest among youth, preserving such crafts requires sustained support to prevent them from fading into history.
While artisans continue efforts to keep these trades alive, the transfer of knowledge to a new generation, alongside meaningful support for traditional industries, remains essential to safeguarding glassmaking and other heritage crafts from disappearance.
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