JAI: Olive Picking Program with 120 participants

Around 120 international participants, from 14 countries worldwide, have joined this year’ Olive Picking Program in Palestine, lasted from the 13th to the 22nd of October 2018, organized jointly by the Joint Advocacy Initiative of the YWCA of Palestine and the East Jerusalem YMCA, and Alternative Tour Group.

International participants supported Palestinian families in picking their olive fruits, and provided solidarity and protective presence to them, in the villages of Al-Khader, Hussan, Nahhalin, Wad Fukin, Teqou’, and the town of Beit Sahour, at their fields, which are threatened of confiscation and Israeli settlers’ attacks. They also listened to their stories and harassment they are subjected to, which they would share back home.

The program also included guided tours in the areas cities of Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jerusalem, where participants were introduced to the Israeli closures, ‘checkpoints’, colonies (settlements), apartheid wall, as well as cultural and religious sites.

Afternoon and evening presentations, talks and movies’ screening were also provided to the participants on main issues related to the Palestinian life under occupation, and national/international anti-occupation campaigns, including the Boycott-Divestments-Sanctions (BDS), Kairos Palestine and others.