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Palestinian pipers

John Laurenson, Bethlehem / alJune 9, 2014

Palestinian scouts have been playing bagpipe music since the 1920s, having picked it up from Scottish soldiers stationed in the region. The music has become part of Palestinian Christians' religious festivals.

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Bagpipe musicians in Bethlehem
Image: Musa Al Shaer/AFP/GettyImages

Bagpipes in the Palestinian Territories

Both scouts and bagpipes are a legacy of the British Mandate for Palestine, which administered the region from 1920 to 1948.

The Papal Scout Troop of Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, is one of those which regularly perform a repertoire of Scottish and Arabic songs.

The scouts play at religious festivals and take part in processions in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

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