Jordan Valley - Shepherd Accompaniers
It was a quiet, calm day. Nice weather. Blue sky. And the ground waiting for rain.
The greenery is nice but there is not enough food for the sheep. They get their hay before grazing and some more afterward. Grazing is mainly in order to move around a bit.
The birthing season is reaching its end. The lamps are already growing and getting sold. Today people came to buy some. And I got my car started after its battery died…
When we arrived at the Jordan Valley as well as in the afternoon we checked out the area where the fence was erected for the cows belonging to colonist As’ael – and the area was empty. Only two days previously, said Dan, there were cows there, and he spoke with Asa’el made him get his cattle out of there. Who knows?
Yesterday – no connection to this report, just for archive’s sake – marked a violent encounter between one of the accompaniers in Hamra and colonist Moshe Sharvit. The accompanier was arrested by the police and is still held in custody at the Russian Compound of Jerusalem. The horrific terrorist attack in Jerusalem happened that same evening. It too is unconnected to this report, but certainly connected with what will happen in the coming days.
At the end of the day we visited Mahmoud, who lives with his family above the Hamra Checkpoint. He grows Marino sheep. They are large and healthy. He fattens them up with the best feed possible. Measures it out exactly. Grows prickly pears around his area. They also provide the sheep with food when needed.
It was interesting to follow different husbandry methods and differences in approach and thought.
He also grows strawberries in a special way, and other fruit. All our respect!!
Yes, we were very glad to hear that the PA has given out bicycles to children in the northern part of the Valley.
Hamra (Beqaot)
See all reports for this place-
One of the Jordan Rift Valley checkpoints that prevent direct transit between the West Bank and the Jordan Valley, in addition to Tayasir Checkpoint. Located next to Hamra settlement, on Route 57 and the Allon Road.
Read about the peple of the Jordan Valley and the quiet transfer happening there.
Shahar ShilohNov-3-2021Ein Shibli: grazing begins close to home
-
Jordan Valley
See all reports for this place-
Jordan Valley The Jordan Valley is the eastern strip of the West Bank. Its area consists of almost a third of the West Bank area. About 10,000 settlers live there, about 65,000 Palestinian residents in the villages and towns. In addition, about 15,000 are scattered in small shepherd communities. These communities are living in severe distress because of two types of harassment: the military declaring some of their living areas, as fire zones, evicting them for long hours from their residence to the scorching heat of the summer and the bitter cold of the winter. The other type is abuse by rioters who cling to the grazing areas of the shepherd communities, and the declared fire areas (without being deported). The many groundwaters in the Jordan Valley belong to Mekorot and are not available to Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley. The Palestinians bring water to their needs in high-cost followers.
Nurit PopperDec-16-2027Nurit is threatened by settlers from close range.
-
Khalet Makhul
See all reports for this place-
Khalet Makhul
A small settlement of a shepherd community located on the way to the settlement of Hemdat. Two nearby outposts make life miserable for the Palestinians, who make a living from grazing, and the army backs the settlers. As a result, the possible grazing areas are getting smaller.
The local children attend school in the settlement of Ein Al-Beida. Long lines of 3 hours sometimes stretch out at the Hamra and Tayasir checkpoints leading to the town of Tubas, making it difficult to get water, supplies, and sell the cheese, milk, and meat that the residents produce for their living.
Following a deadly attack at the Tayasir checkpoint in February 2025, the checkpoint was closed completely for the time being.
(Updated March 2025)
-