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Olive Picking Program 2013
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A program for Civil International Solidarity with Palestinians
The Alternative Tourism Group
and the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine
 
For the past 10 years, the Alternative Tourism Group (ATG) and the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the East Jerusalem YMCA and YWCA of Palestine (JAI) have been organizing an annual olive picking program in Palestine; a special event where support for Palestinian farmers is provided as well as granting an opportunity to people from around the world to experience Palestine under the Israeli military occupation.
Since the year 2000, the olive harvest has been overshadowed by the Israeli policies of repression, closure, blockage of streets, confiscation of agricultural lands, as well as repeated attacks against Palestinian farmers by Israeli settlers and military. Now with the construction the Apartheid Wall and the continuous expansion of Israeli settlements at the expense of agricultural land in the occupied Palestine, many farmers are separated from their trees, and help is most needed.
Buildings on experience from previous years, the JAI and the ATG have planned a program for civil international solidarity with Palestinian people and farmers. The objective of this program is to mobilize as many people as possible for olive picking, especially in areas that are situated in proximity to Israeli settlements and bypass roads, in order to help Palestinian farmers harvest their olive trees which they might be unable to do without international support. Also, the event has brought up awareness to hundreds of people from many countries around the world about real life under the Israeli Military Occupation, and the experience itself was referred to by several participants as a life changing one.
Besides picking olives, the program will feature introductory presentations about the organizing institutions, the current situation in Palestine and the effect of the Apartheid Wall, tours in the old city of Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a tour of Hebron, cultural evenings and social gatherings.
Olive Picking 2013 - Proposed schedule
Day One – Saturday 19/10/2013: Arrival. Meeting representatives from the organizing institutions for an overview and discussion of the program.
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour (near Bethlehem)
Day Two – Sunday 20/10/2013: Half day picking olives at a selected field.
After lunch, political tour and sightseeing in Bethlehem, including the visit of a refugee camp. Dinner, followed by screening of a documentary at Jadal / Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Three - Monday 21/10/2013: Half day picking olives at a selected field, followed by lunch.
Meeting at The Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ) for a presentation on the Apartheid Wall and land confiscation. Visiting an olive press
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Four - Tuesday 22/10/2013: Tour in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Lunch, followed by a settlement tour around Jerusalem: Israeli colonies, segregation Wall, house demolishing, expropriation of Palestinian lands.
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Five - Wednesday 23/10/2013: free day
Day Six - Thursday: 24/10/2013: A tour in the old city of Hebron. Visiting the Ibrahimi Mosque. Meeting with the Hebron Rehabilitation Committee (HRC) for a presentation about the situation in Hebron.
Lunch. Visiting a glass factory. Free time
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Seven - Friday 25/10/2013: a full day of picking olives at a selected field, lunch included.
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Eight - Saturday 26/10/2013: Half day picking olives at a selected field.
Dinner followed by a presentation on the refugee questions with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugees' Rights
Dinner and overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Nine - Sunday 27/10/2013: Half day picking olives at a field.
Lunch
Evaluation meeting followed by a musical evening.
Overnight in Beit Sahour
Day Ten - Monday 28/10/2013: departure.
More Information:
- The cost of the program including accommodation in a double room, meals, guides, local transportation and other relevant expenses is $650.
- Accommodation can be arranged at a hotel or with a local family.
- A 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 any other information, questions, concerns, or to request a registration form, please contact:
Jawad Musleh, Alternative Tourism Group, program coordinator, via email at: jawad@atg.ps or by phone at (+970) 2 2772151
We hope to have you with us!
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