Soap is slippery business in Nablus
Nablus has been historically known for pioneering soap-making in Palestine, but the once-booming industry there is now facing some hurdles.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The city of Nablus in the northern West Bank is famous for its soap industry, and some historians believe the craft originated there more than 1,000 years ago. Soap is a hallmark of the city and of Palestine, which once exported soap products globally.
Moaz al-Nabulsi, 67, is the son of the late Hassan al-Nabulsi, a name well-known in the soap industry. The Nabulsi family once owned more than 20 soap factories in Nablus.
Nabulsi was introduced to the family business at an early age. During school holidays, he accompanied his father to the soap factories to study production methods so he could eventually take on the management of the family business.
He told Al-Monitor his family has been working in the soap industry for 240 years, and that in the last 100 years the city had 52 soap factories of which the Nabulsi family owned almost half. Today, however, only seven soap factories produce and sell Nabulsi soap.
