I have returned from my vacation, and hopefully will be back to writing on a regular basis. Yesterday I went out with some members of Taayush to an activity organized by the Palestinian Christian group, Sabeel. This was my first meeting with Sabeel, and I think it was also their first cooperation with Taayush.
Sabeel was well organized, and had about 30 people with them. We went to an area northwest of Jerusalem, close to the settlements of Giv’at Ze’ev and Giv’on Hahadasha.
As a group we went to an area of land owned by the Sabri family, who live on the other side of the separation barrier, so they are unable to access their land or to work it. It is important for Palestinians to have their land worked, because there is a law that allows Israel to seize lands that lie fallow for three years.
Here is a picture of a map that Sabeel provided. The black and white line is there because the map was made before the barrier in that area was finished, but it is now complete there.
The Map
We all worked together – Israelis, Palestinians, and internationals – planting olive and almond trees. It was tiring work, and in the end we planted about 100 trees.
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Part of the group working. The settlement of Giv’at Ze’ev in the distance.
Across the Borderline 