Solidarity Tour and Protective Presence in the Southern Jordan Valley

22/12/24

On Friday, December 20th, in stormy weather, around 30 Zazim activists set out on a solidarity tour and protective presence in the southern Jordan Valley. The tour, led by “Rabbis for Human Rights” and “Looking the Occupation in the Eye,” connected the activists with residents of the communities in Ma’arajat and Ras al-Ain, who have been suffering from settler violence. Since the war, settler violence in the area has escalated, with settlers attacking residents in their homes, damaging property, driving shepherds out of grazing areas and water sources, and attempting to forcibly displace these communities from their homes. Even during the tour, settlers from the area arrived to harass and threaten. Israeli activists stationed in the region as part of protective presence shifts help support the residents and reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.

Thanks to the support of hundreds of Zazim members, we have recently carried out protective presence initiatives in South Hebron Hills and participated in the olive harvest in the Bethlehem area. Our community will continue to visit the area monthly, providing protective presence and sharing the information that the media does not report about the settler-led terror in the West Bank, carried out with government backing.