A casualty of war: Israel's breathtaking historical site remains out of reach after October 7

St. George's Monastery, a 5th-century Greek Orthodox site in the Judean Desert, has been inaccessible for three years since October 7, 2023, due to barriers erected by the settlement of Mitzpe Jericho and the IDF. The road is blocked by electronic-arm barriers, cutting off one of Israel's most stunning tourism sites. Tour guide Hannah Rosenberg describes it as a 'magical place' with a 'wow' factor. No authority appears motivated to restore access.

St. George's Monastery, a 5th-century Greek Orthodox monastery in the Judean Desert, has been inaccessible for three years since October 7, 2023. The road leading to the site, located in Area C of the West Bank, is blocked by a labyrinth of electronic-arm barriers, codes, and blockages erected by the settlement of Mitzpe Jericho and the IDF. Tour guide Hannah Rosenberg describes the site as a 'magical place' that tourists would remember for its 'wow' factor. The monastery, established by John of Thebes and five Syrian hermits, is open daily except Sundays but unreachable. The article notes that no authority—from the residents to the IDF to the Tourism Ministry—appears motivated to restore access. The site features a fortress-like complex built into rock formations, with churches rich in religious paintings and icons, and the remains of monks massacred by Persians in 614 CE.