Samra: "We Are Going Nowhere": Determination and Sumud in the Northern Jordan Valley
General: A hot and quiet day across the entire northern Jordan Valley. People are saying everyone is focused on the “pride/filth parade” in Jerusalem.
Large areas have been harvested, while others are dry and awaiting the harvest. Today, the shepherds went out in search of dry grass. We went up and down, bypassed and crossed, until we reached an unharvested field that belongs to the family by Tabu (land registry). The sheep enjoyed the dry food and marched across the land, back and forth, before finally heading home for water.
We trudged along behind them. No one confronted us. No one threatened us. No one harassed us or pointed a rifle at our chests.
The heat was heavy, but we did it.
In the morning, they recounted the events of the previous week over and over again. They are determined to stay in their place. Samidin. Sumud (steadfastness). They are going nowhere else—despite everything, or perhaps because of everything.
May is already in full swing, yet the shearing has barely begun. Most of the flock needs shearing like they need air to breathe; as far as they are concerned, summer is already here.
I wish we could find a shearing machine.
Location Description
Jordan Valley
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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.
Local residentJun-27-2026Samra. Settlers coming to harass
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Khalet Makhul
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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)
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