PHOTOS: Palestinians establish new protest village in Jordan Valley

By Activestills February 1, 2014 | Edit

Some 300 Palestinian activists descended on a cluster of palm trees and long-abandoned houses north of the Dead Sea on Friday to establish the protest village of ‘Ein Hijleh.’ The aim of the action was to protest demands made by the Israeli government to retain control of the Jordan Valley and other settlements in the midst of current peace negotiations. The action is the first in a campaign of protest villages activists termed ‘Melh Al-Ard’ (Salt of the Earth).

By: Oren Ziv, Ryan Rodrick Beiler, Keren Manor/Activestills.org

Palestinian activists arrive to Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014.

Palestinian activists arrive to the Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014.

Palestinian activists shout slogans upon arrival to Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Haaretz reported earlier this month that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he “did not intend to uproot any Israeli citizen” from the West Bank and doubled down on his insistence to hold onto the Jordan Valley amid peace talks brokered by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

According to the Popular Struggle Coordinating Committee, which organized the action in Ein Hijleh:

Ein Hijleh village is located in what is called “Area C” in the Jordan Valley, which is under threat of annexation by Israeli policies and Kerry’s plan. Therefore, we have decided to take charge and call for a national action to protect the Jordan Valley and put an end to the constant Judaization of Palestinian lands.

Last year, Palestinian activists erected a massive protest village named Bab al-Shams in the E1 area near Jerusalem to protest the threat of Israeli settlements and annexation there. A month later, activists built a shorter-lived protest village named Al-Manatir, near the West Bank village of Burin.

Palestinian activists celebrate as they arrive to Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

A Palestinian activist hangs the Palestinian flag on palm tree, in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

In addition to Israeli settlements, the Jordan Valley has been the site of numerous demolitions of Palestinian homes by Israeli authorities recently, including entire villages. On Thursday, demolitions in the Jordan Valley community of Ein el-Helwe displaced 66 people, including 36 children.

“I am deeply concerned about the ongoing displacement and dispossession of Palestinians,” said UN humanitarian coordinator James Rawley, noting that in the Jordan Valley, “the number of structures demolished more than doubled in the last year.”

Palestinian activists prepare for the night in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activist plays in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014.(Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists play volleyball in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014.(Activestills.org)

Palestinian activist prays in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists prepare for the night in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists prepare food at Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists around a bonfire in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists around a bonfire in Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Sunrise at Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists share morning coffee at Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists clean parts of Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists clear parts of Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank January 31, 2014. (Activestills.org)

Palestinian activists argue with Israeli soldiers in the Ein Hijleh protest village, in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, January 31, 2014. Army issued a ‘closed military zone’ warrant to the activists. (Activestills.org)

As of Saturday afternoon some 50 people remained in Ein Hijleh and Israeli forces forbid anyone else entering the village.

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TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence. We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies. This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza. We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives. Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

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