Protective presence alongside Palestinian shepherd communities.
Jordan Valley Activists are a group of Israeli volunteers working alongside Palestinian shepherd communities in the Jordan Valley, in Area C of the West Bank.
These communities live under harsh conditions, with limited access to water, electricity, grazing land, and basic protection. In recent years, pressure from nearby illegal outposts has sharply escalated, including harassment, blocked access to water and grazing areas, destruction of property, theft and killing of sheep, and forced displacement of several communities.
The activists respond through protective presence: accompanying residents during grazing or in their communities, always at the communities’ request and without the use of violence.
Their Role in Civil Society
Jordan Valley Activists play a rare and vital role in the civil society ecosystem: they provide direct, community-requested solidarity in one of the most vulnerable and volatile areas of the West Bank.
Their work is not symbolic. It is practical and protective. By accompanying Palestinian shepherds, documenting harassment, and showing up consistently, the activists help reduce immediate harm and support communities trying to maintain their way of life.
The relationship is important to name carefully. The Palestinian communities are not passive recipients of help; they are leading their own struggle to remain on their land. The activists come when asked, on the communities’ terms, placing whatever protection their presence may offer at the service of those communities’ own needs and decisions.
Mission
Jordan Valley Activists work to protect Palestinian shepherd communities in the Jordan Valley through nonviolent, community-requested protective presence.
Their work supports communities facing harassment, property destruction, restricted access to land and water, and the threat of forced displacement. By accompanying residents, documenting incidents, and standing alongside communities in the field, the activists practice a form of solidarity rooted in responsibility rather than charity.