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Jericho : Jericho (Arabic, Ariha, Hebrew, Yeriho), town in the West Bank, located in the Jordan Valley, north of the Dead Sea and west of the Jordan River. Jericho is the world's oldest known settlement and is famous in biblical history. From 1967 to 1994 Jericho was occupied and administered by Israel; in 1994 it became the first town in the West Bank to be transferred to Palestinian self-rule.
There are several wonderful points of interest in Jericho. One of them is a 6th-century synagogue with an intact mosaic; Hisham's palace, which was built in the 700s as a winter retreat for the Umayyad Caliph Hisham and is a surviving example of early Islamic architecture. Twenty kilometers south of Jericho on the Western shore of the Dead Sea is one the world's most ancient monasteries. This is the place where the world famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Displays of the scroll fragments may be seen in the Archeological Museums in Amman (the capital of Jordon) and in the museums of Jerusalem. Another beautiful attraction is Byzantine structure of St George's monastery. Located nearby are the Mount of Temptation, which, according to New Testament tradition, is the site where the devil tempted Jesus Christ There is a narrow road following the line of the valley and is used by tourists who come here to visit the valley with its many historical sites. It offers visitors wonderful prospects for walking tours, especially in winter.
An additional place of interest is Tomb of Prophet Moses which is a splendid example of early Islamic architecture set in an awe-in-spiring landscape. It lies in the heart of the Judean Desert, about 30Km east of Jerusalem. It is a huge two storey building topped by a complex of domes. The building consists of a large central open courtyard surrounded by over 120 rooms. The main mousque lies against the western wall of the courtyard.
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