Palestinian Non-Violent Grassroots Movements

Solidarity Tour Programme

Our solidarity tour programme aims to provide its participants with a unique experience in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). It offers its participants the opportunity to contribute positively to world peace, justice and stability and to help protect and maintain human rights and dignity by discovering and taking part in the non-violent struggle against the Israeli Occupation.

This programme offers an introduction to the different geographical and cultural regions of the West Bank and their richness, while providing its participants with in-depth social, political and historical insights on Palestinian life. It allows the participants to gain awareness by experiencing and sharing the very direct impact of the Occupation practices on the daily life of the local Palestinian population, mainly in Area C (the Palestinian area under full Israeli civil and military control), as seen through the eyes of the people.

The programme lasts for one week, but customised shorter programmes can be organised upon request.

Day One (Arrival)

Welcome speech by the Popular Committee and Palestinian Solidarity Project (PSP) members in Beit Ummar, check-in at the grassroots activists’ centre,introductory information, dinner followed by an initial training session about the non-violent resistance and solidarity programme.

Day Two

1. Beit Ommar
Breakfast in Beit Ummar
Presentation about the town of Beit Ummar and extensive tour of the town: brief about the history of the construction of Israeli settlements on Beit Ummar land as well as other related consequences of the brutal Occupation policies on local inhabitants.
An introduction about the Center for Freedom and Justice projects in Beit Ummar, the Popular Committee and the PSP.

2. Hebron District
In Hebron city, participants will be able to see Israeli settlers living in the middle of the Palestinian neighbourhoods and the Israeli army apparatus throughout the city.
Meeting with grassroots Popular Committees and Palestinian families who are affected by the settlers and the Israeli army presence.
Lunch including Hebron specialties.
Tour of South Hebron Hills: field visits to areas subjected to continuous settler and army attacks and meeting with grassroots Popular Committee and with Palestinian families suffering from ongoing violence from the settlers.

3. Return to Beit Ommar
Free time, dinner and feedback session.

Day Three

1. Bethlehem District
Tour of historical and religious sites such as the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and Shepherds’ Fields in Beit Sahour.
Walk along a section of the Apartheid Wall and visit the Aida Refugee Camp,meeting with its grassroots Popular Committee and activists.
Visit Bethlehem University, meeting with students and professors.
Lunch including Bethlehem specialities.

2. Jerusalem.
Visit to Silwan village and Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhoods to see buildings confiscated by Israeli settlers. Brief about the Israeli Judaizing plans for Jerusalem, meetings with the grassroots Popular Committee, the Wadi Hilweh Information Centre and families from the area and visit the holy sites in the city such as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

3. Beit Ommar
Free time, dinner and feedback session.

Day Four

1. Ramallah District
Tour of Ramallah city. Explore the streets and markets of the town, then visit the tomb of Yasser Arafat at the Muqata.
Visit Bir Zeit University
Visit Nabi Saleh, a local village famous for its ongoing activism, meeting with its grassroots Popular Committee and explanation about the situation with the adjacent settlement of Halamish and increasing Israeli repression in the area.
Lunch.

2. Nili´n and Budrus Villages
Meeting with grassroots Popular Committees and presentation of their successful resistance stories and achievements, followed by a screening of a popular resistance documentary with commentary.

3. Beit Ommar
Free time, dinner, feedback session.

Day Five: Nablus District

1. Iraq Burin and Awarta
Tour of the villages of Iraq Burin and Awarta meeting with the Popular Committee and local families. Participants will be exposed to the massive presence of settlers in the area.

2. Nablus
Visit Al Najah University.
Lunch
Explore the old streets and markets of Nablus.
Ascend the surrounding mountains to meet with the local Samaritans who inhabit this area.

3. Beit Ommar
Free time, dinner, feedback session.

Day Six

1. Jenin District
Tour of Jenin city, meeting with local organizations.
Visit Jenin Freedom Theatre: meeting with actors and directors.
Visit the Jenin Refugee Camp and meet with its grassroots Popular Committee and encounter local families who will testify to their particular hardship in the camp initiated by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
Lunch.
Visit the American University meeting with the Students’ Council and Administration.

2. Qualqilia
City tour to discover how the town is encircled by the Separation Wall. Explanation by the National Committee on the negative impact of the Wall on every aspect of local Palestinian life.

3. Beit Ommar
Free time, dinner, feedback session.

Day Seven

1. Jericho District
Tour of the city of Jericho and visit the Mount of Temptation by cable car.
Meeting with the Jahalin Bedouins and brief about their vulnerable situation inside Area C (under full Israeli control) and nearby Israeli settlements (Maale Adumim, etc).

2. Jordan Valley
Visit the Jordan Valley Solidarity Movement and meeting with grassroots Popular Committee.
Lunch.
Visit the Dead Sea to know more about the Israeli and legalenvironmental violations and to have a unique experience of the Dead Sea significant characteristics.

3. Beit Ommar
Free time, dinner, feedback session.
Entertainment evening in Beit Ommar with cultural events including Palestinian debkeh dancing and singing and a delicious Palestinian barbeque.

ACCOMMODATION
Participants will be staying in Beit Ommar, a village of 17,000 between Bethlehem and Hebron, which is surrounded by Israeli settlements. There is dormitory accommodation in the grassroots activists’ centre which is very well equipped with necessary amenities and furnished comfortably. There are gender-separate bedrooms, a living room, a Western-style bathroom, a full kitchen, wireless internet access, a telephone and satellite TV.
Those who are not participating in the tour programme will be responsible for their own meals. Food can be purchased at the nearby village shops.

ESTIMATED COST OF TOUR
The tour programme costs include all accommodation in Beit Ommar, three meals a day, a tour guide and transportation.

Cost per person: $ 400
Minimum group: Seven

Activists wishing to stay with us for one day or just a section of the programme will have to pay for the dorm ($10 per night), to cover the cost of utility bills and the use of accommodation facilities. An individual wishing to access the programme privately will have to pay $900 for the full programme. If a group or an individual chooses one particular section of the programme only, then he/she will be charged accordingly.

Arabic lessons are available upon request, costing $70 per person, minimum group of seven people, for one month, five days a week, for two hours per day. The price does not include the study material.

Palestinian traditional food will always be served unless special requests are made.
Cultural workshops will be organised regularly to socialise with the local community.

Our programme does not only welcome activists; it is aimed at anyone who is genuinely seeking a better understanding of the ongoing plight of the Palestinians and the destructive consequences for them of the Israeli Occupation and rapid growth of the settlements.

For further requests, information and questions, please contact:

center4freedom@gmail.com
younesarar@gmail.com
Younes Arar: +972 (0)599 965 272
Mousa Abu Marya: +972 (0)598 139 590 :

LENGTH OF STAY

The length of your tour and stay is flexible, ranging from a night or two up to several months.

Watch a short introduction from the Beit Ommar area:

From France?
Watch the french version of the video: