Out and about in Jericho

I went with Marwan, from the Holy Land Trust, to meet the Palestinians who have reoccupied Ein Hijleh, a village overlooking the Jordan near Jericho. The Israeli Defence Force had turned up and had closed the road so we had to walk across the desert to get to this incredible place. I met Mustafa Barghouti, Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the National Palestinian Initiative and Candidate for President of the Palestinian Authority. I also met Abu Jihad, member of the Central Committee of FATAH, and spoke to him about the role of the UK in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. 

Local people are supplying the village with food and water. Some doctors arrived with some water. Their car stopped by the roadside and was then confiscated by the IDF, even though this is in the Palestine Territories. A lot of 'discussion' followed and the car was eventually returned. Everyone was very alert for "problems". The village has been occupied for 5 days so far.