West Bank 'plane chalet' helps aviation dreams take off
"And that's the goal: since we don't have planes or airports, people come here instead," he told AFP.
Harsha said he designed the concrete plane himself, with a master bedroom in the cockpit and a children's bedroom in the tail.
The price tag, between 1,000 and 2,000 shekels (about $300-$600) per night, is out of reach for most Palestinians, particularly as unemployment soars due to the war in Gaza.
He has nonetheless been pleased with the reactions to his chalet, having initially faced scepticism.
"I wanted to bring something unique, something new to the area and to Palestine," Harsha said of the unit, which opened a month ago.
Since its launch, his red and white concrete plane has become a local landmark, featuring in local media and on social networks.
Harsha said he originally wanted to place a Palestinian flag on his chalet and call it the "Palestinian Queen", but avoided such signs out of caution.
The guest house is located in the West Bank's Area C, which covers more than 60 percent of the territory and is under full Israeli control.
"I just made it look like a plane. I avoided politics entirely because of the hardships our people are going through," he said.
"We're a people who are constantly losing things -- our land, our rights, our lives."
Using the land
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and frequently demolishes homes it says are built without permission in the mostly rural Area C.
Though no airport currently services the Palestinian territories, both the West Bank and Gaza once had their own terminals, in east Jerusalem and the southern Gaza city of Rafah, respectively.
Both were closed during the Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising of the early 2000s, and what remains of east Jerusalem's airport is now isolated from the rest of the West Bank by Israel's separation barrier.
Despite difficulties and threats of demolition, Harsha believes that Palestinians can find freedom and fulfilment in projects like his.
"I encourage everyone who has land to work on it and invest in it -- with creativity and ambition," he said, flanked by his two brothers who helped him build the unit.
Harsha himself has more plans for his land.
"After this aeroplane, we'll build a ship next year," he said.
"It will be something unique and beautiful," he said, pointing out that while many West Bank Palestinians have seen planes flying overhead, a large number of people from the landlocked territory have never seen a real ship at all.
© 2025 AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local France
a day ago
- Local France
IN PICTURES: France's scene-stealing Tour de France fans
Tour de France spectators are known for their enthusiasm – which can border on the excessive as they've been known to get too up close and personal with the riders. But it's their funny, over-the-top and often downright eccentric get-ups and banners that sometimes steal the show. Whether it's 'simple' head-to-toe polka dots à la jersey awarded to the King of the Mountains to various furry animals, an out-of-season Santa Claus, the Pope and even, um, genitalia, those watching like to get creative. These are some of our favourites from this year's race. A spectator in costume (presumably Celine Dion from the helpful sign) looks on along the race route. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) READ ALSO: 7 reasons to watch the Tour de France (even if you have no interest in cycling) Spectators in polka dots and, yes, inflatable genitalia costumes cheer the riders on. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) A group of spectators sport matching skintight pink all-in-ones line the race route on the ascent of Mont Ventoux. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) The 'pope' was in attendance this year, too. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) A spectator dressed up as Santa Claus – because why not – rings a bell along the race route. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) It all makes dressing up as a panda look pretty normal. This panda was watching the race on July 20, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Advertisement And sometimes people want to just let it (almost) all hang out. A man in a fluorescent Borat-style mankini steals the show. (Photo by Bernard PAPON / POOL / AFP) Bare feet, kilts, and pants: does it get any more Scottish? (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) Hats are also a big deal among those watching. A spectator wearing a hat adorned with miniature cyclists looks on at the finish line area on the summit of La Plagne. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) READ ALSO: How to watch the Tour de France climax in Paris Another spectator sports a hat decorated with mini cyclists. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Umbrella hats cover all weather eventualities. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Sometimes only traffic cones will do when supporting the riders. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) And, at other times, it's a different kind of riding you need. A man on horseback rides alongside the peloton. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) And let's not forget the banners. A spectator in a stormtrooper mask holds a placard to spur riders on. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Spectators with a placard which reads "You're a skilled bastard, get over the hill and think of Ricard [French liquor]" gather near the finish line area at the summit of Col de la Loze. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) But sometimes it all goes a bit too far. Like when one brazen prankster actually tried to cross the finish line before the riders, earning himself an eight-month suspended sentence in the process . A French Republican Security Corps officer tackles an individual attempting to cycle across the finish line minutes before the final sprint between Bollene and Valence, southern France, on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) Advertisement
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Fashion Network
Tourists tame their shopaholic ways, if they even come to the US
More than taking in views from the top of the Empire State Building, more than watching Old Faithful erupt and even more than shaking hands with Mickey Mouse, visitors to the US come to do one thing: shop. But now, President Donald Trump 's global trade war and border policies — combined with broader economic uncertainty — are threatening billions of tourism dollars. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates almost 20 billion dollars in retail spending is at risk this year. Some travellers are avoiding the US altogether, and of those who are coming, many are rethinking their budgets. Although some major currencies have recently gained against the dollar, international visitors are still confronting years of US inflation that has driven up the price of hotel stays and restaurant meals, leaving less money in their pockets for shopping. Travel-related spending, which typically grows each year, has been virtually flat this year through May when compared to the same period in 2024, data from the US International Trade Administration show. Meanwhile, foreign arrivals to the US by air were down 6.6% in June compared to last year, according to the ITA. 'Tourists would come with empty suitcases and they would go out, fill the suitcases up and then ship those suitcases home,' said Floris van Dijkum, a managing director at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Now, habits are changing. 'The jury is still out on the ultimate impact, but clearly you're going to see some pressure,' he said. Betto Souza, who has been working as a tour operator in South Florida for over a decade, is experiencing the shift first hand. While his clients — predominantly Brazilians like him — are still flocking to Miami for big events like the Miami Open and Formula One Grand Prix, they're being more selective about what to spend their money on. Steep import taxes and trade barriers have long pushed Brazilians to buy brand-name products abroad, with electronics like Apple Inc. watches and MacBooks — as well as Nike Inc. sneakers, Tommy Hilfiger Corp. shirts and Michael Kors bags — among their go-to purchases. Now, 'some will opt not to buy sneakers so they can still purchase an iPhone. Or they'll forgo buying perfume,' said Souza, 53, who owns Miami Tours & Limo Services. 'Some are sacrificing shopping to be able to have experiences.' Annet van der Meer, visiting New York City from the Netherlands, agrees. She's still shopping for US brands, including New Balance sneakers and UGG boots, but much of her budget is going toward day-to-day expenses. 'Compared with Europe, it's unbelievable,' said van der Meer, 64, who'd just visited the Macy's store near the Empire State Building. 'Food is very expensive, alcohol is very expensive — I think in Europe we pay two times less than here.' Hotel prices are up almost 10% since before the pandemic, while the cost of eating out has risen by almost a third, according to government data. For years, tourists from across the world have included stops at US luxury stores and outlet malls on their list of must-dos when visiting the country. Though e-commerce and international expansion mean the days of filling suitcases with half-price US brands are in the past, there are still some bargains to be found — especially for visitors from countries where certain products are priced at a premium. Last year, shopping was the top leisure activity among the more than 48 million foreigners who flew to the US, a survey by the ITA found, topping sightseeing and visits to national parks, monuments and museums. Visitors could be further deterred by the cost of visas, which are set to rise significantly due to new fees detailed in Trump's multitrillion-dollar tax and spending bill. And in recent weeks, the president has been threatening new tariffs on imports from countries including Brazil, Mexico and South Korea. Canada has already seen widespread boycotts on all things American. The unease among tourists is adding to challenges for everyone from mom-and-pop owned retailers to big companies like Macy's Inc., where Chief Executive Officer Tony Spring recently indicated that international tourism took a toll on sales last quarter. The company, which owns luxury brands Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury as well as its namesake stores, said its forward guidance was based on overseas shoppers staying away. Other companies have suggested US consumers could help offset some of the losses. UK fashion brand Burberry Group Plc said last week that a slowdown among tourists globally was the most challenging part of its business worldwide, but that sales in the Americas beat forecasts in the quarter through June, driven by 'new local customer growth.' Luana Krewer, a 24-year-old college student from Brazil's capital, Brasilia, returned in May from a two-week trip to Orlando and Miami with her family. She was on the hunt for a Coach bag, but said that shopping in the US 'is very different from what it used to be.' Compared to costs on her last visit in 2018, when she found deals on Apple products and the Brazilian real was almost twice as strong against the dollar, 'I thought the prices were very expensive,' she said. Ultimately, she spent more than 1,000 dollars on clothes at the discount store Ross Dress for Less and Florida's outlet stores, picking up products from Nike, Gap Inc., Victoria's Secret & Co. and Target Corp. Back in midtown Manhattan, Selma Aydin manages the New York Gift Store near the Rockefeller Center, selling souvenirs including New York Yankees hats and shirts to tourists. She said fewer people are visiting the store this year, and they're spending less. 'Last year, if people were coming, they were spending 1,000 dollars,' said Aydin, 50. 'One customer, for example, right now, is spending 200 dollars.'
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- Fashion Network
Tourists tame their shopaholic ways, if they even come to the US
More than taking in views from the top of the Empire State Building, more than watching Old Faithful erupt and even more than shaking hands with Mickey Mouse, visitors to the US come to do one thing: shop. But now, President Donald Trump 's global trade war and border policies — combined with broader economic uncertainty — are threatening billions of tourism dollars. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates almost 20 billion dollars in retail spending is at risk this year. Some travellers are avoiding the US altogether, and of those who are coming, many are rethinking their budgets. Although some major currencies have recently gained against the dollar, international visitors are still confronting years of US inflation that has driven up the price of hotel stays and restaurant meals, leaving less money in their pockets for shopping. Travel-related spending, which typically grows each year, has been virtually flat this year through May when compared to the same period in 2024, data from the US International Trade Administration show. Meanwhile, foreign arrivals to the US by air were down 6.6% in June compared to last year, according to the ITA. 'Tourists would come with empty suitcases and they would go out, fill the suitcases up and then ship those suitcases home,' said Floris van Dijkum, a managing director at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Now, habits are changing. 'The jury is still out on the ultimate impact, but clearly you're going to see some pressure,' he said. Betto Souza, who has been working as a tour operator in South Florida for over a decade, is experiencing the shift first hand. While his clients — predominantly Brazilians like him — are still flocking to Miami for big events like the Miami Open and Formula One Grand Prix, they're being more selective about what to spend their money on. Steep import taxes and trade barriers have long pushed Brazilians to buy brand-name products abroad, with electronics like Apple Inc. watches and MacBooks — as well as Nike Inc. sneakers, Tommy Hilfiger Corp. shirts and Michael Kors bags — among their go-to purchases. Now, 'some will opt not to buy sneakers so they can still purchase an iPhone. Or they'll forgo buying perfume,' said Souza, 53, who owns Miami Tours & Limo Services. 'Some are sacrificing shopping to be able to have experiences.' Annet van der Meer, visiting New York City from the Netherlands, agrees. She's still shopping for US brands, including New Balance sneakers and UGG boots, but much of her budget is going toward day-to-day expenses. 'Compared with Europe, it's unbelievable,' said van der Meer, 64, who'd just visited the Macy's store near the Empire State Building. 'Food is very expensive, alcohol is very expensive — I think in Europe we pay two times less than here.' Hotel prices are up almost 10% since before the pandemic, while the cost of eating out has risen by almost a third, according to government data. For years, tourists from across the world have included stops at US luxury stores and outlet malls on their list of must-dos when visiting the country. Though e-commerce and international expansion mean the days of filling suitcases with half-price US brands are in the past, there are still some bargains to be found — especially for visitors from countries where certain products are priced at a premium. Last year, shopping was the top leisure activity among the more than 48 million foreigners who flew to the US, a survey by the ITA found, topping sightseeing and visits to national parks, monuments and museums. Visitors could be further deterred by the cost of visas, which are set to rise significantly due to new fees detailed in Trump's multitrillion-dollar tax and spending bill. And in recent weeks, the president has been threatening new tariffs on imports from countries including Brazil, Mexico and South Korea. Canada has already seen widespread boycotts on all things American. The unease among tourists is adding to challenges for everyone from mom-and-pop owned retailers to big companies like Macy's Inc., where Chief Executive Officer Tony Spring recently indicated that international tourism took a toll on sales last quarter. The company, which owns luxury brands Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury as well as its namesake stores, said its forward guidance was based on overseas shoppers staying away. Other companies have suggested US consumers could help offset some of the losses. UK fashion brand Burberry Group Plc said last week that a slowdown among tourists globally was the most challenging part of its business worldwide, but that sales in the Americas beat forecasts in the quarter through June, driven by 'new local customer growth.' Luana Krewer, a 24-year-old college student from Brazil's capital, Brasilia, returned in May from a two-week trip to Orlando and Miami with her family. She was on the hunt for a Coach bag, but said that shopping in the US 'is very different from what it used to be.' Compared to costs on her last visit in 2018, when she found deals on Apple products and the Brazilian real was almost twice as strong against the dollar, 'I thought the prices were very expensive,' she said. Ultimately, she spent more than 1,000 dollars on clothes at the discount store Ross Dress for Less and Florida's outlet stores, picking up products from Nike, Gap Inc., Victoria's Secret & Co. and Target Corp. Back in midtown Manhattan, Selma Aydin manages the New York Gift Store near the Rockefeller Center, selling souvenirs including New York Yankees hats and shirts to tourists. She said fewer people are visiting the store this year, and they're spending less. 'Last year, if people were coming, they were spending 1,000 dollars,' said Aydin, 50. 'One customer, for example, right now, is spending 200 dollars.'
