War in the Middle East is destroying some of the region’s most historic buildings. In Israel, “the damage to Nablus was awesome. The town was founded by the Romans in about 70AD – it’s about the same age as London – and it became an important Crusader town and, later, a trading centre for the Ottoman Empire. Buildings from these eras survive – or did, until a few months ago. Over 100 important historical buildings just aren’t there any more. Nablus was the most important historic town in the Middle East, and it has been devastated.”