Visiting a community in the Jordan Valley

Rashid and Adrielle took us to visit two small communities to the north. As we drove, Rashid explained.

There are few roads in the Jordan Valley. Highway 90 goes down the middle and is the arterial road. Access to all the villages and settlements is via this road. There are a few roads which climb up through the mountain to the West Bank cities (Ramallah, Nablus etc). There are 5 checkpoints, plus the entry point to the West bank on highway 90. With the strategic closing of minor roads (by tipping a load of rocks in the road) Israeli controls all movement in and out of the Jordan Valley.

Treatment is random and unpredictable at the checkpoints. Palestinian trucks loaded with produce may be delayed, or asked to unload the whole vehicle (for checking) before being allowed to pass. Trucks carrying building supplies can be stopped and confiscated. We were initially refused entry at one of these checkpoints - in a hired Israeli vehicle. After waiting for 20 minutes we were allowed to pass. Rashid and Adrielle were held for 3 hours on their previous occasion (and for no reason other than "security").

We saw several roads and miles of ditches, all designed to isolate the Jordan Valley from the rest of the West Bank. 

Some roads are in a poor state. Rashid told us that they are "not allowed" to repair the Palestinian roads.   

We passed a Mosque - Rashid told us that the military has cleared the people from the village as it has been designated a military zone. The military are using the Mosque as their office.

We stopped by the roadside and called in to see this delightful family. We sat and listened to their story, while they served us with coffee, then tea, then cold drinks

The family have no electricity and no water. At the back of their house is a large Israeli well pumping water out of their land to the settlements. They have 10 goats and 2 sheep - the children took great delight in showing us the animals.

Unfortunately, this is not sufficient to keep the family, so two of the women work in the settlement picking fruits and vegetables. The work is hard and not reliable as they work as and when required. They get paid £13 each for a full days work. The Israeli court has ruled that the settlements must pay a minimum of £4 per hour, but they don't. 

And finally, we were invited to stay for lunch. We were embarrassed to receive so much from this family that had so little, but Rashid told us it would not be considered polite to refuse, so we gratefully accepted. They brought a huge plate of chicken and stuffed vine leaves that were delicious. We ate while the women and children watched; we wondered if we were eating their meal.

Finally, after lots of shaking hands and thanks, we were back on the road. I have never experienced such grace and generosity anywhere We were strangers on the road, and they gave their very best to us.

May God bless this lovely family.