On Al-Wad Street, Jerusalemite Simon Habash opened his pharmacy more than 50 years ago. It was the first pharmacy in Old Jerusalem, and the closest to Al-Aqsa Mosque, before the occupation made it difficult for him to bring medicines.
Jerusalemite pharmacist Salim Chris Habash, the son of the pharmacy owner, compares bringing medicines to the pharmacy in the years following the opening of the pharmacy and recent years, noting a big difference due to the increasing difficulties.
He adds that bringing medicines was easier when the pharmacy was established, and the movement of people was stronger and Jerusalem was open to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Today, the speaker points to a number of difficulties and challenges resulting from the presence of the occupation, most notably the restrictions imposed on Old Jerusalem, the difficulty of bringing medicines and subjecting them to coordination and inspection, and the prevention of purchasing medicines from Arab countries or factories in the West Bank.