The Israeli Military Administration has announced plans to create “a number of rest areas on the route to Jericho for Bedouins, tourists and travellers to have a break on the road”. This is strange news coming from a state which is constantly demolishing and destroying the homes and animal shelters of these very same Bedouins they claim they want to help. Bedouins of the Jordan Valley are subject to daily harassment and violence from Israeli Occupation Forces and settlers. They are surrounded by checkpoints, watchtowers, military bases. They are denied access to water, electricity, freedom of movement and are frequently forced off their land by Israeli’s in order to expand illegal settlements.

The Israeli state has for decades engaged in systematic expulsion of Palestinians and the destruction of Palestinian infrastructures, to facilitate Israeli military and settlement expansion. For many years Israel has repeatedly destroyed Palestinian fruit and vegetable stalls along Road 90 in the Jordan Valley. Thus, the fact that the ‘agricultural department’ of the Military Administration plan to create resting places and shelters from the often extreme heat with provision of tables, lamp posts and picnic areas is incredulous.

They have destroyed many trees on Palestinian lands leaving villagers and their livestock without shelter. For example in the blistering heat of July 2010 the IOF destroyed homes and shelters of the entire farming community of Al Farisiya. Then, when they had rebuilt their homes just a month later the army returned, this time destroying not just the newly reconstructed dwellings, but the few remaining trees they had for shelter.

The plan includes creating water channels directly to the rest stops. Yet, Bedouin areas (Al Maleh, and Al Hadidya and Ein El Hilwe to name but a few) are prevented from accessing natural springs and streams by the imposition of Closed Military Zones, and have had their portable water tanks and tractors confiscated. All over the Jordan Valley Bedouin communities are subject to much the same harsh treatment on a daily basis.

It is not yet clear exactly where these resting places will be situated but there are not that many roads in the Jordan Valley. The two mains roads (Road 57 and Road 90) which run through the Jordan Valley provide the main routes to and from Jericho. All Palestinians are forbidden to stop or rest on these roads. If they do stop they very quickly run the risk of harassment and violence by the Israeli army and Israeli settlers.

The Administration’s statement that these rest areas will benefit Bedouins (amongst others) is yet another blatant attempt at white-washing their aggressive and accelerated ethnic cleansing policies in the Jordan Valley. One can only assume that Israel has another more sinister agenda.