By: BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Jeruslaem, Israel - Aug. 24, 2023 - Israeli Route 90 is the longest road in Israel, going north from Metulla to Eilat in the south through the Jordan Valley. On Thursday, August 24th, a section of Route 90 was closed due to a serious rockslide in a popular hiking area near Ein Gedi causing multiple injuries and the death of a 5-year-old boy.
On August 23rd, a tour sponsored by American Friends of Judea and Samaria (AFJS), left Yerushalayim on Route 90, led by professional tour guide David Haivri. Haivri also led a tour reported by BJL last weekon security areas in theYehuda and Shomron regions.
Immediately leaving Yerushalayim on Route 90, one goes from the bustling growing city to see sand dunes on the short distance toward the Dead Sea. By the side of the road, Bedouin encampments of various sizes and configurations, with metal huts and tents and animals grazing are located repeatedly along the way.
The drive in the Jordan Valley has changed significantly over the years. Israeli technology and agriculture research and hard work have changed the scenery from only miles of barren sand into large fields of green, mostly with palm trees. Because of the hot dry climate in the area, new plantings of sweet seedless grapes and growing techniques for mango, produce from the area can reach the market early in the season.
The first stop at Oren Farm in Netiv HaGedud, with owners Silvi and Chaim Oren, was enlightening on many levels. Israeli agricultural specialties, fresh flowers, and high-quality produce grown in the Jordan Valley have not found success in markets in Europe. New labeling started European markets boycotting their products marked as "West Bank." When Jordan occupied the area from 1948-1967, the territory on the western side of the Jordan River was named "West Bank." The current Israel-Jordan border goes through the center of the Jordan River and can change with the water level. Oren has not only started making and marketing Argan oil but added cannabis and solar fields to his land in the moshav.
At the Jordan Valley Research and Development farm off Route 90, Pini Sareg shared his extensive knowledge of date growing in the Jordan Valley. Noting that he developed the method of date palm tree growth noticeable from the road. The palm trees are no longer all tall with the need for men and machinery to climb to reach the ripe fruit. We were able to pick and eat the fresh dates ourselves while standing in the hot desert sun with the guidance of the agronomist researcher. Sareg demonstrated how the dates fall into special bags that protect them from birds and bugs when ripe and ready to be collected.
David El Hiyani, Chairman of Jordan Valley Council joined Yigal Dilmoni former CEO of YESHA Council, the umbrella organization representing 25 Jewish communities throughout Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, and founder of AFJS. In the modern air-conditioned municipal building, more dates were offered along with cold water, and the two men discussed the complicated situation of living in the area.
As the previous week's security tour, the Jordan Valley security command station with Avi head of operations was a fascinating stop, but one not recorded in photographs. The technology for the security of citizens of the Jordan Valley includes closely monitoring fences and the border with the IDF. However also impressive, as school starts, each school bus has its own security features down to being able to watch every student who does not sit in their seat or throws a paper airplane.
The name given to Israel for Routes 458, 508, and 578 is Allon Road. It runs mostly south–north along the eastern watershed of the Judaean and Samarian Hills, between Highway 1 near Kfar Adumim east of Yerushalayim and Highway 90 at Mehola in the central Jordan Valley. The road was the first step in implementing the Allon Plan, one of the earliest Israeli initiatives to deal with the territory west of the Jordan River that came under Israeli control after the war in 1967. The plan called for the Israeli annexation of the narrow corridor of land along the west of the Jordan River up to the eastern slopes of the Samarian mountains. Yigal Allon was not only an important Israeli military leader but long-serving popular politician until he died of a sudden heart attack.
The tour bus took Allon Road through the sand dunes with its majestic views to reach a new farming endeavor and meet Nati and Inbal Yisraeli at their home at Malachai HaShalom farm in the eastern Binyamin region. Yisraeli proudly showed off the new synagogue as the sheep loudly greeted the visitors with "baa-baa" noises nearby.
AFJS is currently organizing a mission to Israel – for leaders of all ages, public opinion shapers, and influencers, in partnership with the World Zionist Organization. They also participate in speaking engagements and parlor meetings in Israel and abroad in order, to tell the truth about Yehuda and Shomron.
American Friends of Judea and Samaria (AFJS), is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to increasing knowledge, and sharing the truth about the Israeli communities of Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley to the general public, and offered three tours in August 2023. Each tour was unique and crafted to show locations off the main tourist itinerary.
Speaking with friends who are currently visiting Israel after a long time away, and who were extremely hesitant to travel to Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley, these informative initiatives can help show the situation, too often distorted in the media. This writer is looking forward to seeing and learning more in the future
The photo essay attempts to capture the day trip in a few images showing highlights from the day.
