Palestine Monitor
29 March 2011

The Jordan Valley Regional Council, a settler-run body, recently stated that it is offering the abandoned Gadi military base, in the Jiftlick area of the Jordan Valley, to the Bnei Hamoshavim youth movement. Leaders of the movement say they intend to use the base as accommodation for its graduates.

For Jordan Valley Solidarity, this is yet another indication that Israel has no intention of giving up the valuable land.

Bnei Hamoshavim is part of the moshavim settlements, or cooperative agricultural communities, which were popularised as part of the Zionist state-building agenda during the Mandatory era. David Alhiani, head of the Jordan Valley Regional Council, is himself a graduate of the movement.

Two weeks ago, while on a tour of the area, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited Gadi. Fathi Khdeirat, head of Jordan Valley Solidarity asserted the purpose of Netanyahu’s trip to be, ‘to discuss the annexation of the region and to reaffirm Israel’s commitment to retaining control over it.’

Khdeirat’s grassroots movement is committed to helping the victims of Israel’s draconian policies towards Palestinians in the Jordan Valley, including evictions, demolitions, and theft of resources.

Gadi is located between the Moshav Meshua settlement and a working military base. Netanyahu stated during his visit that Moshav Meshua is overcrowded and must be expanded, thus Gadi can serve to absorb the settlers who cannot be accommodated or who would prefer to live in Gadi.

The Gadi base also sits between two Palestinian communities, which now face demolition orders. A large video camera was reportedly installed on the hillside behind the base in order to survey the surrounding area. ‘We consider these evacuations as efforts to push Palestinians out of the region. It’s ethnic cleansing and should be regarded as a kind of war crime,’ Fathi states.

The Jordan Valley was among the first regions to be settled after 1967, viewed as a buffer between Israel and Jordan. Israel’s continual settlement of the area is ostensibly for security, though many observers view this as patently deceptive. For example, Israeli policy in the region involves destroying Palestinian wells, springs, irrigation projects and agriculture, which is hardly consonant with a security agenda. Most believe the real reason is more concurrent with the economic profits settlers enjoy through the rich agricultural opportunities in the valley.

The Alon Road runs parallel to the Jordan border, with settlements and military bases placed strategically along its length. The road is named after Yigal Alon, the architect behind the initial settlement plan for the valley following its occupation. Settlements now form a belt along the border, effectively shutting off the Palestinian population from the rest of the West Bank. The aim is to separate the Jordan Valley from the West Bank in order to claim it as part of Israel during negotiations on Palestinian statehood. ‘Ditches, checkpoints, military areas and observing points form a kind of wall, preventing us from moving from east to west,’ Fathi notes.

‘There is a media campaign to bring more Israelis to the valley,’ Fathi continues. ‘Many plans are underway for continued settlement, financed by Zionist organisations. Settler groups, along with the regional council, make regular field visits to locate sites for new settlements. The council organises tours for religious groups to introduce them to the area, so they can decide if they want to settle here.’

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam al Fayyad made a speech in response to Netanyahu’s visit, stating that the Jordan valley remains a sine qua non for a Palestinian state. ‘Ninety five percent of the Jordan Valley is under Israeli control; if they wants to keep this area, it will be impossible to have our own state,’ Fathi believes.

The valley is crucial for a two-state solution for several reasons. It makes up thirty percent of the West Bank and would serve as a gateway for Palestinians to the Arab world and the international community. Further, it contains the main water source for the West Bank, and is the most fertile agricultural region. These factors mean the valley represents a key source of wealth and resources for a new state, without which independence would be unthinkable.

Nevertheless, the relatively small settler population controls the vast majority of the region and its infrastructure. ‘The Gadi military base is merely the latest site in the ongoing settlement activity and what we can expect in the whole valley,’ Fathi opines.