Invitation
A program for Civil International Solidarity with Palestinians
6th - 15th February 2010
In February 2010, the Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) and the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) organised the 3rd annual olive tree planting program. Trees have to be planted in spring time to take advantage of the water from the winter rains and the cool weather to give the young trees a chance to grow before the summer heat.
Since the beginning of the second Intifada in 2000, working on agricultural lands has become a difficult endeavor. Palestinian farmers have regularly been harassed by Israel's policies of repression, such as closures, blockage of streets to access the fields, confiscation of agricultural lands, as well as repeated attacks by Israeli settlers. With the construction the Apartheid Wall well beyond the Green Line and at the expense of large amounts of agricultural land, many farmers have been separated from their land and trees by the Wall.
Building on experience from previous years, JAI and ATG plan a program for civil international solidarity with the Palestinian people and farmers. The objective of this program is to mobilize international volunteers to assist in planting olive trees in fields that are situated in proximity of Israeli settlements, bypass roads and the Wall. In these areas, an international presence is often needed in order to help Palestinian farmers to access their land which is in danger of being confiscated. The presence of olive groves on this land helps to hold on to the land and to assert continuous ownership by the Palestinian farmers.
Besides planting olive trees, the program features introductory presentations about the current situation in Palestine and the effects of the Apartheid Wall. You will also be taken on various tours in the old cities of Jerusalem, Hebron, and Bethlehem, and have the opportunity to attend cultural events and enjoy social gatherings.
It is our pleasure that people join our mission to keep hope alive together and to learn more about daily Palestinian life under a ruthless military occupation.
Olive Planting 2010 - Proposed schedule
- Day One - Saturday 6/2/2010: Arrival at the airport and travel to
Bethlehem. Meeting with representatives of the organizing institutions for an overview and discussion of the program. Dinner and free time.
- Day Two - Sunday 7/2/2010: Tour around Bethlehem visiting not only the holy sites and the old city, but also the wall and a refugee camp, showing daily life under occupation. Documentary screening about the situation in
Palestine.
- Day Three - Monday 8/2/2010: Half day planting trees at a selected field. Visiting Duheisha refugee camp. Evening with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugees' Rights. Dinner and free time
- Day Four - Tuesday 9/2/2010: Half day planting trees at a selected field. Meeting with the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ) for a presentation on the Israeli Apartheid Wall and land expropriation by Israeli authorities. Dinner and free time.
- Day Five - Wednesday 10/2/2010: A tour in the old city of
Jerusalem to visit the main sites in the city. Lunch and visiting YMCA headquarters in Jerusalem, and in the afternoon, joining The Israeli Committee Against House Demolition ICAHD for a settlement tour around
Jerusalem. Dinner and free time.
- Day Six - Thursday 11/2/2010: A tour in the old city of Hebron to visit the Ibrahimi Mosque, es-souq (the market), and to see that part of
Hebron which is under Israeli control and where Israeli settlers occupy the center of the city. Followed by a meeting with an organization based in
Hebron. Dinner and free time.
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Day Seven - Friday 12/2/2010: Half day planting trees in a selected field, followed by lunch. Meeting with representatives of the Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) of the East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine.
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Day Eight - Saturday 13/2/2010: Visit to the city of
Ramallah. Meetings with Defense for Children International DCI, Al-Dameer, the Right to Education Campaign and visiting Arafat's Tomb. Dinner and free time.
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Day Nine - Sunday 14/2/2010: Half day planting trees at a selected field. Evaluation meeting followed by a cultural evening and farewell dinner with staff members and volunteers. Overnight in
Bethlehem.
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Day Ten - Monday 15/2/2009: Departure.
Additional information
- The cost of the program including accommodation, meals, guides, local transportation and other relevant expenses is $620.
- Accommodation can be arranged at a hotel or with a local family.
- A tour guide will be present with the group at all times for facilitation purposes.
- Travel from and to the airport is not included in the cost but can be arranged for groups.
For more information, questions, concerns, or to request a registration form, please contact us as follows:
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