Occupied Palestinian Territories: Supporting farmers in Bethlehem 2005-06

December 2005: This appeal sought to help Palestinian farmers withstand the effects of Israel’s Separation Wall through assisting them to develop their remaining agricultural lands.

The appeal raised A$3,395. These funds were forwarded to our long-term local partner, MA'AN Development Centre, who worked with local farmers in the al-Makhrour district, near Bethlehem, to build and renovate the stone terraces which support and protect their farm lands. These farms are particularly well-known for their fruits (apricots, grapes and peaches), almonds, vegetables and olive trees, and had always provided a good level of food security for the local community. Rainwater is also harvested and stored in cisterns for irrigation.

BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT

The al-Makhrour district is located outside Beit Jala, Bethlehem. The Beit Jala district has already had some of its land confiscated and incorporated into the nearby Israeli settlement of Har Gilo and to an Israeli military camp. The main north-south highway linking Jerusalem and Hebron also runs near to the district. According to maps released by the Israeli military, further segments of the Separation Wall will be built through the middle of the al-Makhrour agricultural district, in effect annexing more of the Palestinian farmers' lands.

Since the beginning of the current intifada in September 2000, the Israeli army established a permanent military checkpoint at the main western entrance to the town. This checkpoint prohibited the farmers of Beit Jala and al-Khader village from reaching their agricultural lands in the al-Makhrour area with their vehicles (cars or tractors). Since their farm area is relatively far from the town, it has been impossible for all of the farmers to cultivate their lands as usual during the past three years. During harvest time, farmers had to physically carry their produce and walk via a mountainous area in order to transport the yield to their homes and to the local market.

PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS

The project supported 11 farms in the al-Makhrour district with the construction of 560 metres of stone terraces/support walls. The project complemented an on-going land rehabilitation program already underway by MA'AN in the al-Makhrour area. The project added more metres of terraces to assist in halting soil erosion and allowed MA'AN to work with more beneficiaries. To ensure local ownership of the project, the project also required farmers to make a cash and/or in-kind contribution.

One of these farmers was Mrs Nemeh, who had to reduce her visits to her land after suffering a long-term illness in her knees. Without her visits, her farm had deteriorated beyond use after the terraces crumbled, resulting in severe soil erosion. Mrs Nemeh was selected as one of the beneficiaries of this project because she was a widow with a low socio-economic background and had land in the al-Makhrour area. The support to Mrs Nemeh included the rehabilitation of 170 square metres of stone terraces, allowing her to cultivate her land and earn an income, especially since vehicles were later allowed to reach this area at certain times of the day.

The al-Makhrour area is under close surveillance by the Israeli authorities, with district lands in the pathway of Israel's construction of the Wall. The project staff and farmers faced the constant challenge of the patrolling and questioning of farmers by the Israeli military. Despite these challenges, this project has shown an increase in the movement of farmers in al-Makhrour area, accessing and cultivating their lands - an important achievement for the small farming community.

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