One of the strategic stops on my See the Hope Be the Hope tour of Palestine was Jericho and the Jordan Valley. While there, I looked at the sites through an environmental lens, and I was shocked to see how the Israeli occupation is impacting the land...and the Palestinians living there.
Jericho is a Palestinian city in the West Bank that's located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It is the administrative seat of the Jericho Governorate of the State of Palestine and is governed by the Palestinian National Authority as part of Area A.
Israel has long sought to annex the Jordan Valley. Today most of the Jordan Valley is dominated by Israeli Settlements that run larger agro-businesses in this area on some of the most fertile agricultural lands in the West Bank.
We visited three locations outside of Jericho, including the beautiful Auja Spring, which was a major source of water that is now diverted by pipes for use by the Israelis, which leaves local farmers without water. The farmers are forbidden from drilling new wells.
We also experienced the Israeli-operated “baptism site” on the Jordan River (The site of Jesus' baptism) that is dangerously contaminated, according to an advisory that urges tourists to stay out of the river's waters.
Another compelling stop was The Dead Sea, which has been overexploited of its natural resources. Climate change threatens the Dead Sea and drying up this natural wonder rapidly. It is the lowest exposed place on Earth. It is 10 times saltier than the ocean, so you don't sink in it. You float. The mud and the waters are full of minerals - great, therapeutic for your skin. But the Dead Sea is dying. The lake level is dropping 4 feet every single year and has caused 3 sinkholes already and the abandonment of a prestigious hotel.
In the midst of the concerning environmental issues, we witnessed hope...Palestinian families still picnic near the Auja Spring, and the Baptism site still echoes with a message of mercy and justice preached by Jesus. And the Dead Sea still provides an analogy that in the midst of oppressive living conditions....there is still healing to be had.
Ramez, one of our current DAK students, joined John and me on the trip.....He's also a reminder of the Hope in Palestine for the next generation of creative leaders! Please invest in students like Ramez with a gift to Bright Stars of Bethlehem today.
