Palestinian Land Day tour
March 22nd - March 31st 2020
Land Day is an annual commemoration of the 1976 massacre that took place in Sakhnin, a Palestinian village in Northern Israel, Lower Galilee, north of Nazareth. On this day, six Palestinian men and women were murdered and nearly 100 injured while protesting the confiscation by Israel of 20.000 dunums (5.000 acres) of land from families living in Sakhnin and Arrabba.
What are we going to do?
During the Land Day Tour in Palestine we will work alongside a few Palestinian families in their effort to remain on their land by planting olive trees on their land. We will also learn about the ongoing policies of land confiscation and the expulsion of Palestinians.
Why should we come?
The Land Day Tour provides you with a unique opportunity to explore the different ways and methods Palestinians use to confront Israeli oppression. Included will be visits to Palestinian towns in the West Bank such as Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Hebron, Ramallah, Nabi Saleh, Nablus and Jericho.
Land confiscation has been part of state policy since before the formation of the state of Israel in 1948, and continues to this day in both the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the state of Israel. Today, a few of the numerous examples of land confiscation and ethnic cleansing, can be seen in the process by Israel of confiscating an additional 250.000 dunums (62.000 acres) of land from 35 Palestinian Bedouin communities inside Israel as well as Palestinian communities in East Jerusalem and the Jordan Valley.
In the occupied West Bank, the state of Israel is actively confiscating Palestinian property within Area C, which comprises 60% of the West Bank. Methods include confiscation for military purposes, for public (Israeli only) needs, declaring Palestinian land State Property, and applying the Absentee Property law. These methods result in Palestinian land owners, residents of the West Bank, being denied access to their properties. Particularly good examples of this are the difficulties farmers experience in accessing their land and crops.
What should we bring to wear?
Palestine is a beautiful country and in spring is no exception - full of wild flowers and greening hills and valleys (called wadis). Come prepared with shoes appropriate for unpaved agriculture land and walking tours in towns and cities. It can still be cold in the end of March especially at night, so bring enough warm clothes.
Suggested Schedule (Please not that the program might have minor changes due to circumstances)
Please note that on Friday 27th of March is the Palestine marathon in Bethlehem! We will have a day off for people to join in running the marathon or just joining this cheerful event. Registrations for the marathon go through the website: www.palestinemarathon.org
| Day One | March 22nd | Arrival and meet the To Be There guides and other participants; introduction to the program |
| Day Two | March 23rd | A tour of Bethlehem old city and the church of the nativity, Israel’s wall around Bethlehem, Israeli settlements, bypass Roads and Palestinian refugee camps |
| Day Three | March 24th | Visit Hebron, one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world, with evidence of habitation dating back to 4.500 BC. In the Old City of Hebron you will see the direct result of the presence of hundreds of Israeli settlers and soldiers for the daily life of the local inhabitants. Including a visit to the Ibrahimi mosque and the glass factory. |
| Day Four | March 25th | A guided tour in the Old City of Jerusalem focused on the political situation and occupation. A visit to Lifta, a village that was attached and depopulated in 1948 by zionist militias, to learn more about the events that occurred during the Nakba, the catastrophe, when Palestine was ethnically cleansed in order to create the State of Israel. |
| Day Five | March 26th | A visit to the town of the Tamimi family, Nabi Saleh, where non violent resistance is part of the ongoing struggle. And then to Ramallah to see the tomb of Arafat and spend time in the Arafat museum. |
| Day Six | March 27th | Free day to join the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem |
| Day Seven | March 28th | A visit to the city of Nablus in the north of the Westbank where we will see the olive soap factory, small workshops, herbs and spices shop and of course we will eat knafeh, a Middle Eastern dessert that Nablus is especially famous for. |
| Day Eight | March 29th | A visit to Jericho city, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Visiting also Bedouin community in Khan al Ahmar and Jiftlik in the Jordan Valley. |
| Day Nine | March 30th | Palestinian Land Day. Planting olive trees together with a Palestinian family. |
| Day ten | March 31st | Departure day |
We will have several lectures during afternoons or evenings regarding the political situation and human rights focused on the Palestinian case.
The fee for this visit is $1,000 (US Dollars) per person.
Fees will cover
- Accommodation in a hotel on twin bases (you can request for a single room for an additional price)
- 3 meals a day
- Guides present at all times
- Fees for lecturers and guest speakers
- Transportation inside the West Bank and on the days designated for visits to Jerusalem and Hebron
- A portion of the fees will be used for the purchase of sapling trees we will be planting
Fees will not cover – please note:
- Fees do not cover the airport transfer or transportation from and to the Jordan boarder. You can either organize it yourself or request us for help. We can advice you on public transportation or arrange a private taxi for you to pick you up and take you straight to the hotel.
- Fees do not cover any travel or medical insurance. You will be responsible for organizing your own insurance coverage for the trip and the duration of your stay.
- Fees do not cover your travel and activities on free days and periods with the exception of breakfast and dinner provided by the hotel.
- Fees do not cover any personal items, gifts or souvenirs you may wish to buy.
If you have any questions about the fees and what is covered, please contact us. We are happy to provide any guidance or information you may need to ensure your experience with To Be There meets your expectations.
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION. We will send you a link to an online registration form.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you want to come earlier for the marathon let us know and we can help you with extra nights in the hotel (not included in the program fees)