Today we met with a few activists from the Jordan Valley Solidarity project based in Tubas. The group works in conjunction with international solidarity groups such as the Brighton-Tubas Friendship and solidarity group as well as with multinational development agencies. It works with displaced and threatened communities within the Jordan valley that are being harassed by the Israeli Occupation Force. They outlined to us the work they have been doing since we last met with them.

Since June of this year, the group have facilitated the renovation of 30 houses in Al-Jiftlik, Ein Al-Beida, Al-Oja, Bardela, and Ebzek and are working on renovating 25 more. They have also renovated a health centre in Bardela, a vital asset to a community often cut off from the wider world. The houses will almost certainly be demolished by the Israeli’s as they are built in Area C and some of the families have already received a letter from the IOF warning them that building work will lead to demolitions. Rebuilding is a difficult process as it is being done in the knowledge that the army are likely to demolish the homes so the materials used must be cheap and preferably recyclable.

As well as working to renovate people’s homes, 4 nurseries have also been renovated: 2 in Al-Jiftlik, 1 in Ein Al-Beida, and 1 in Al-Oja. The three play areas being built in defiance of the occupation have now been finished in Al-Hadidiya, Al-Oja and Al-Jiftlik. Despite being told to stop the building work, the play areas are now in full use by local children.

Fasayil school now has two new classrooms bringing the total number of students at the school to 108. Work on the school began in 2007 and despite falling down twice due to heavy rains and an Israeli demolition order, international support meant that the school was finally completed and is now a full functioning school. On a recent visit to the Jordan Valley, Tony Blair insisted that he would never allow for Fasayil school to be demolished!

All of this building work is being conducted in Area C in direct defiance of the Israeli Occupation Forces who prohibit Palestinians from building in an attempt to drive them from their land. These are the first renovations which have been done since the occupation in the West Bank!