IN STEREO

They want to do something in Al-Makhrour; it seems that we’re concentrating on Al-Makhrour. It’s a beautiful agricultural area, a wonderful area to stroll. Suitable for everything, I mean. That’s why it’s important. It needs work. It needs care. It’s not enough now with a restaurant or two, or landowners visiting. There must be activities, like summer camps, cultural festivals, heritage. I mean, attract people to this area so that there’s always life in it. Maybe there should be support for landowners so that they preserve it. And of course, a permit from the Israeli side. The main obstacle is Israel. In the current situation, tourism is local. Now when tourists come from abroad, they tell them, for example: “If you go to Bethlehem, those Arabs will slaughter you! No, you come sleep in Jerusalem.” So they try to provoke against Palestinian tourism. [Um Fadi: Yes, “Don’t drink the water;” “Don’t go to restaurants.”

The problem is that all lands, whether in Al-Walaja, in Al-Makhrour [or] in Battir… All of them are private properties. So if I have a piece of land and I’m thinking of making a project, I can’t afford to. I depend on my neighbour: maybe my neighbour has money [but] maybe my location is better, right? So a big institution is needed, that knows the most appropriate for the topic.] Movement on Al-Makhrour, it needs effort; it needs cooperation. I mean, if we wanted to talk about our people in the Palestinian Authority: [we need] support from outside that doesn’t enter the hands of people living here. Support them in work, without handing them money. Because whenever money comes, in the end, there is no work. If we had to give it to the Authority, it would get lost without anything being done. – Abu Fadi