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by Editor, Palestinian Monitor
– May 29, 2011

In the Jordan Valley, Palestinians are struggling just to remain on the land as the predatory settlements and occupation authority make everyday life an uphill battle.

On 29 May, a group of Palestinians, internationals and Israeli activists joined the Jordan Valley Solidarity Project to help build a school out of mud bricks.

Nearly the entire Jordan Valley is under Israeli control (categorized under Area C). Lacking permission to even build a rainwater collection device, most communities suffer from a constant threat of home demolition. The day of action was about supporting Palestinians in the Jordan Valley to continue their steadfast resistance in the land. The Jordan Valley represents nearly 30% of the West Bank, and therefore is crucial to a future Palestinians state.

Diana Alzeer, 23, who helped organize the group, emphasized the importance to build bridges between the geographically diffused Palestinian communities, “I believe that part of activism and resistance is not only going to demonstrations, and I think it’s really important for us Palestinians to be in contact with the rest of our society including the hills of hebron, Jerusalem and different districts of Palestine.”

Continuing, Alzeer said, “The Jordan Valley is one of the places I think it is very important for volunteers to go to, because in that part of Palestine existing is actually resisting.”

Driving the group of activists along Highway 90, leaders from the JVSP pointed out the countless agricultural settlements that litter the area, explaining how Israeli settlements have appropriated the agriculture enterprise of the region, preventing Palestinian communities from maintaining their own livelihoods.

According to JVSP, the dearth of schools for Palestinians living in Area C force young Palestinians to find work on a settlement farm. Therefore, building schools in communities is of the utmost importance to restoring Palestinian independence and helping the communities to stay on the land.

To find out how you can get involved in helping community activists in the Jordan Valley, visit the Jordan Solidarity Project .

Photos taken by Diana Alzeer.