On 3 February, 2013, MA’AN conducted its first Jordan Valley tour of 2013. Eighteen Palestinians and internationals met outside MA’AN’s office and were taken to the Jordan Valley. Along the way, a presentation of basic information was given to the participants about the current situation of the Jordan Valley. First, the attendees were brought to Ras al-Auja to discuss, with an elder of the community, about restrictions imposed on the 1,000 person community such as those on building, grazing, water, and basic services. Next, they were brought to Fasayil al-Foqa to view some of MA’AN’s work including the Khalid ibn Walid school, and the numerous houses that have been renovated with funding from the Norwegian Representative Office (NRO). Third, tour participants were brought to Zbeidat for lunch and to also learn about the impact of the Israeli occupation on the residents there, specifically regarding construction and land utilization. Lastly, the al-Maleh region was visited where the participants listened to the head of the village council describe the recent demolitions in the area and the impact on the Palestinians. Following all of this, the participants returned home with factsheets on the Jordan Valley and first hand knowledge of the situation.
