Khan Al-Lubban
Between al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya and Sinjil is the Khan al-Lubban caravansary. The exact date of its construction is not clear, although its architectural style indicates it was built during the Mamluk or early Ottoman eras. Large parts of its western and northern sides were restored and reconstructed in the later Ottoman period as indicated by the size and style of the stones. Factors behind its construction include its important location as a crossroads between central Palestine's major towns and the close proximity of a freshwater well.
In 1882 the Khan was described as "ruined", but with a fine spring beneath it.
During the British Mandate period, the authorities took advantage of its strategic position and used Khan al-Lubban as a police station. The Jordanians continued to use the complex for the same purpose following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Presently, the site is open to the public and recent work has been carried out to accommodate more visitors.
Because of its proximity to the larger caravansary towns of Nablus and al-Bireh, Khan al-Lubban only consists of a single story, unlike most caravansaries which have two or more. The layout of Khan al-Lubban is square-shaped, with each side measuring roughly 23 meters in length. Most of the original building remains intact, with the entrance way bordered by stables on both sides and leading into a courtyard. The eastern and western rooms served administrative functions while the northern rooms served as visitor lodging.
In 2008, Khalid al-Sanih Daraghmah bought the historic building to renovate it. He and his family have faced regular attacks by Israeli settlers at their home in Khan, 2 kilometers south of the West Bank village al-Luban.
In April 2012, Khalid was arrested by Israeli forces and accused of attacking settlers. Three members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), as well as four from the Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) were present and filmed the incident that led to his arrest.
He spent three months in jail, and was forced to pay 20,000 shekels to Israeli authorities to secure his release. His release came with the condition that he was not allowed on his land, except on Saturday, until his court date on October 28.
Read more about this topic: Al-Lubban Ash-Sharqiya