Palestine in Color Dresses

Khan al-Sultan Stands Proud in Jerusalem

• marwan
• August 22, 2026

Husnieh Ghanayem

Khan al-Sultan, also known as al-Wakalah, is a caravanserai located at the northern end of a covered alleyway leading north from Bab al-Silsila Street, near the eastern edge of the Goldsmiths’ Market Street, in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City. It is only a few hundred meters from the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In the 20th century, the caravanserai’s facilities were converted into shoe factories. At the beginning of the 21st century, the first floor was occupied by shops, warehouses, and small workshops run by Jerusalemites, while the second floor became a residence for dozens of families, housing approximately 120 people. The caravanserai suffers from neglect and a lack of restoration of its houses and buildings. It also suffers from overcrowding, as the Israeli occupation authorities prevent any expansion or construction.