Traditional soap factory in Nablus - in pictures

  • A Palestinian worker pours olive oil soap on the floor to harden inside a soap factory in Nablus, the Israeli-occupied West Bank. All photos: Reuters
    A Palestinian worker pours olive oil soap on the floor to harden inside a soap factory in Nablus, the Israeli-occupied West Bank. All photos: Reuters
  • Traditional techniques are used to make the soap.
    Traditional techniques are used to make the soap.
  • Modern manufacturing methods are shunned in favour of tried-and-tested traditions.
    Modern manufacturing methods are shunned in favour of tried-and-tested traditions.
  • Workers manually transfer the soap in buckets.
    Workers manually transfer the soap in buckets.
  • A soap cook empties hot, soapy mixture.
    A soap cook empties hot, soapy mixture.
  • Once cooled and hardened, workers cut the olive oil soap into cubes.
    Once cooled and hardened, workers cut the olive oil soap into cubes.
  • The soaps are stacked into hollow columns to dry.
    The soaps are stacked into hollow columns to dry.
  • The soaps are then ready to be packaged and distributed.
    The soaps are then ready to be packaged and distributed.