Qaffin

Qaffin is reached by a meandering road lined attractively with both fir trees and palms. Located 22km northeast of Tulkarem, and a similar distance west of Jenin, Qaffin is an important agricultural town.

Its central square is home to a large, striking painting of Yasser Arafat daubed on the wall of the local government headquarters, which sits alongside a post office, bank and taxi rank. There is no old town as such, but historic stone buildings can be found dotted throughout the town.

As with many rural Palestinian towns, Qaffin’s charm lies in its eclectic mixture of old architecture and quirky new, colourful buildings. There is also an abundance of creative street art adorning walls and buildings throughout the town. Clothes shops, toy stores and fast food joints can be found in the streets leading out from the main square.

Population: 8,387 (2007)