October 19th – November 3th 2009
In partnership with the Bil'in Friends of Freedom and Justice Society, the Annual Olive Harvest takes place in a different village each year. This year it will be in Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia, where villagers are suffering from land confiscation. This land has been confiscated by the Israeli government to build the illegal settlement of Telmond, and villagers whose land has not been confiscated have a hard time reaching their farms due to other Israeli restrictions.

Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia

Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia is a Palestinian village located 11 kilometers north of Ramallah. It is 700 meters above sea level, and is known for its flourishing olive plantations. It was the site of ancient Islamic and Roman settlements, such as Neilan and Deir Saeda. In the 1950’s and 60’s, the inhabitants depended on farming for sustenance and income. Statistics show that in 1997, roughly ninety percent of the village was literate. The village contains three schools, one for girls and one for boys, and the third is co-ed. Presently, twenty percent of the village is employed by the Palestinian National Authority; others work in the construction and business sectors. The infrastructure in the village is fair. There is electricity, a health center, private clinics, and other services, but most of them need to be upgraded.

In January 2005, the Palestinian Ministers Council created the Zeitouna Municipality, linking Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia with Abu Shokhadem, a smaller village further south, so that the two councils merged into one and the villages fell under the same municipality.

For more information about these villages and the accomplishments of their councils, please look below the program itinerary.

Program Itinerary:

Day One: MON Oct 19th, 2009 – Arrival

Day Two: TUE Oct 20th, 2009 – Jerusalem
• Morning: Via Dolorosa, Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Aqsa Mosque, and lunch in the Old City.
• Israeli Committee Against House Demolition (ICAHD)
• B’Tselem, human rights organization

Day Three – Day Nine: WED Oct 21nd 2009 to TUE Oct 27th 2009
• Olive Harvest
• Some evenings: Cultural events
27 Oct , Travel Back to Bethlehem

Day Ten : WED Oct 28th , 2009 – Haifa and the Sea of Galilee
• the unrecognized village Ein Hod if possible .
• Haifa: Mt. Carmel
•  Nazareth , Sea of Galilee. Overnight in Fawzi Azar

Day Eleven: THU 29 Oct  , 2009 – Jericho
• Tour Around Tiberias 
• Visit the old City Of Jericho 
• Dead Sea
• Overnight in Bethlehem

Day Twelve: Friday 30 Oct, 2009 – Bethlehem
• Orientation to Bethlehem and surrounding area.
• Non-violence training by Palestinian Center for Rapprochement in Beit-Sahour
• Visit refugee camps – Aida and Dhesheh , Overnight in Bethlehem

Day Thirteen : SAT OCT 31st  2009 –  Jenin
• Refugee Camp – Jenin
• Cinema Jenin
• Local women’s organizations
• Overnight in Nablus

Day Fourteen: SUN 01 Nov  2009 – Nablus:
• Najah University
• Refugee Camps – Askar and Balata
• Old city walking tour and visit to handmade olive oil soap factory.

Day Fifteen  : MON 02 Nov , 2009 – Hebron
• Old City walking tour
• Tombs of the Patriarchs
• Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TPIH), briefing and tour.
• Glass Handicraft Factory
• Meeting with the Tent of Nations
• Evening: meeting in Bethlehem with Peace Now, settlement report.

Day Sixteen: TUE Nov. 3th 2009 – Departure

Cost:
The cost per person is: $870.00 ( In double Occupancy )
The price includes the following:
1- All accommodation, including breakfast and dinner.
3- All lunches during the Olive Harvest week.
4- Accompanier and guide.
5- All transporation from the airport and back to the airport, as per
itinerary.( for group only , not for individuals )
6- Fees for speakers.
7- Entrance fees, as per itinerary.

The price does not include the following:
1- Lunches before and after the harvest week.
2- Any other services not mentioned in the program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chris Towne (from U.S.)
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
George Rishmawi
Coordinator, Siraj Center For Holy Land Studies
Schools Street
Beit Sahour, Palestine
www.sirajcenter.org
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Telephone: +972 2 274 8590
Fax: +972 2 274 8774
Mobile: +972 599 180 872

More About Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia and Abu Shokhadem

• Achievments of Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia village council, prior to Municipality:

• Achievements of Zeitouna Municipality:

1. Repaired old village houses in Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia. Cost: $120,000. Donated by Seda of Sweden and Rwak of Palestine.

2. Repaired agricultural roads and constructed 37 agricultural water tanks and 20 domestic water tanks.
3. Repaired water delivery system and added to water tank capacity. Cost: $90,000. Donated by USAID.
4. Constructed service building, with women’s association and kindergarten. Cost: $100,000. 

• Future Projects:

1. Build secondary school for girls in Abu Shokhadem. Research phase completed.
2. Add study rooms to existing schools in Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia.
3. Make additional repairs to internal roads in Al-Mazzra’a Al-Qubalia.
4. Create a new geographical map for Zeitouna district.
5. Design and build 50 house-gardens in Zeitouna district.
6. Draft blueprints for an improved sewer system and initiate construction in the old village of Al-Mazzra’a.
7. Construct new administrative headquarters.
8. Build a public library in Zeitouna district.

• Other Work and Outreach:

1. Committees meet once every two months.
2. Placed five suggestion boxes in both villages to keep the committees informed about what the people need.

3. Formed specialized committees of technicians and educators.  Each committee consists of five members who provide the technical assistence to the Municipality.

4. The Municipality identified 70 projects that needed to be done.
5. Planted more than 900 trees at the entrances of both villages.
6. Participated in conferences, festivals, and meeting with local citizens.
7. Purchased Bobcat bulldozer for the district.

• The members of Zeitouna Municipality:

1. Said Shreiteh (mayor)
2. Mahmmod Qondah
3. Almaza Shreiteh
4. Mosa Shreiteh
5. Hanna Al-Sheikh
6. Mohammed Abu Qare
7. Ali Hannon
8. Hosan Qondah
9. Husam Abu Daher
10. Mohammad Shreiteh
11. Nedal Al-khateb

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