MUSLIMS in Greater Manchester are being offered tours of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and the occupied Palestinian West Bank.
Part of the itenary also includes visits to a Palestinian refugee camp and meetings with activists campaigning for Palestinian rights.
The trip is being organised by Olive Co-operative, a Manchester-based workers co-operative, which has already taken over 100 tourists to the strife-torn region.
Said Olive member Sarah Irving: "Of course we are happy to take anyone on the tour but this is one will be of particular interest to Muslims. We have been asked in the past by Muslims to arrange a tour with a more religious basis and this is the result."
Highlights of the July trip will be a visit to the Harem Al Sharif in Old Jerusalem which contains the Al Aqsa mosque where the visitors will be able to attend Friday Muslim prayers.
It was Ariel Sharon's visit to this site when he was Israel's premier that sparked the last Palestinian uprising against the occupation.

There will also be a visit to Bethlehem and the Mosque of the Caliph Omar as well as a visit to the Mosque of Ibrahim and a trip the West Bank town of Nablus, a centre of Palestinian opposition to the Israeli occupation.
Said Ms Irving: "We will not be visiting Gaza because of the security situation. The Israeli authorities are quite happy to tolerate our tours though they are not happy with us because of our outlook."
The Friends of Al Aqsa Mosque, a UK based organisation, has helped to put the tour together.
One of its organisers Ismail Patel said: "Many Muslims know of the virtues of the Masjid Al Aqsa..it is the only place on earth where all the messengers of Allah prayed at the same time led our Prophet Mohammed, peace be unto him, however not many Muslims have taken the opportunity to visit. I would urge all those who have the means to visit the holy land of Palestine and show solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are resisting daily occupation."
More information about Olive can be found on www.olivecoop.com