International Delegations stand in solidarity with Palestinian Farmers

Categories News

International Delegations stand in solidarity with Palestinian Farmers

A number of international delegations stood in solidarity with the Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest season to express their rejection of the Israeli violations against the Palestinian farmers. The solidarity delegations participated in several activities that included olive harvesting, exchange of local seeds, field visits, and planting olive saplings. The activities were funded by the Norwegian People’s Aid and Grassroots International.

***

A Japanese delegation from Olive No Kai Foundation participated in UAWC’s olive harvest campaign under the slogan “Our Olive is Resistance,” in addition to participating in several field visits to acknowledge the reality of the Palestinian farmers’ lives under the Israeli occupation.

The delegation supported the farmers in Ni’leen in the Governorate of Ramallah in their olive harvest. They also spent the night with farmers to live the simple Palestinian life and follow the Israeli violations against the Palestinian farmers.

The delegation visited UAWC’s Local Seed Bank in Hebron, where the coordinator of the seed bank Doaa’ Zayed gave a presentation about the importance of the local seeds for the world and especially for the Palestinian farmers, in addition to highlighting UAWC’s activities to preserve the local seeds and increase the farmers’ awareness regarding this aspect.

Furthermore, the delegation participated in a field visit to the Jordan Valley where they met farmers and talked about the Israeli violations in that area, in addition to visiting a number of UAWC’s projects in the Jordan Valley.

It is important to note that the delegation donated a fund from the Japanese people to cultivate olive trees instead of the many trees that were uprooted by the Israeli occupation. The delegation participated in planting several olive saplings in the village of Bil’in in the Governorate of Ramallah next to the Israeli Wall.

Moreover, UAWC hosted an American delegation in coordination with Grassroots International. The delegation arrived to Palestine to support the Palestinian farmers in their olive harvest season and collect information on the reality of the Palestinian farmers in rural areas and areas near the Israeli settlements, in addition to visiting some of UAWC’s developmental projects.

The delegation participated in the olive harvest activity of the people of the community of Sousia in Yata in the Governorate of Hebron. Moreover, the delegation stayed the night with the people of Sousia in their tents to experience their daily lives under the daily Israeli violations and Israeli settlers’ violence.

The delegation visited UAWC’s Local Seed Bank in Hebron, where the coordinator of the seed bank Doaa’ Zayed gave a presentation about the importance of the local seeds for the world and especially for the Palestinian farmers, in addition to highlighting UAWC’s activities to preserve the local seeds and increase the farmers’ awareness regarding this aspect. Moreover, the delegation visited Al-Shyoukh women cooperative where they met with the coordinator of the cooperative Yusra Ewiedat. Furthermore, the delegation participated in a field visit to the Jordan Valley where they met farmers and talked about the Israeli violations in that area, in addition to visiting a number of UAWC’s projects in the Jordan Valley.

UAWC’s directing team and board of directors conducted a meeting with the delegation in UAWC’s main office. The work of UAWC and its developmental projects were highlighted in the meeting, in addition to the importance of the strong continuing partnership between Grassroots International and UAWC.

It is important to note that Grassroots International funds two projects for UAWC’s Grassroots, Policies & Advocacy Department. The projects focus on defending the Palestinian farmers’ rights and women empowerment.

In the first week of November, UAWC hosted a delegation from Basque Country. The delegation represents several civil organizations, municipalities and popular unions who are members in La Via Campesina. The delegation aims to gather information about the Palestinian agricultural situation in order to prepare a report that defends the rights of the Palestinian farmers according to La Via Campesina’s peasants rights declaration.

UAWC’s directing team and board of directors conducted a meeting with the delegation in UAWC’s main office to highlight UAWC’s work and its developmental projects.  

UAWC organized several field visits for the delegation. The delegation visited the village of Jayous in the Governorate of Qalqilia where they met with farmers and visited UAWC’s developmental projects in the area. Moreover, the delegation visited the villages of Soreef and Jab’a in Southern Part of Bethlehem Governorate that have areas threatened with confiscation. The work of UAWC’s legal unit was highlighted during the tour.

Furthermore, the delegation participated in a meeting with the Municipality of Jericho and Jericho’s agricultural department in which the situation of the farmers of the Jordan Valley was highlighted. After that the delegation visited the village of Marj Na’ja where they met with farmers and exchanged local seeds with them.

Finally, the delegation participated in a solidarity activity with the farmers of the village of Ni’lin where they planted olive saplings near the Israeli settlement.