Livelihoods for two West Bank families in Urgent Need

As a concerned Canadian living in Israel, I have initiated a crowdfunding campaign to help two West Bank Palestinian families find ways to support themselves financially after being barred from entering Israel for more than a year. Before October 7th last year they managed to make a meagre living mainly by doing odd jobs in Jerusalem. Now that source of income is no longer available to them.

This campaign is designed to help in ways that will have long-term benefits for the recipients - to assist them in becoming self-sufficient in the future, without needing to rely on Israelis for their livelihood or fearing the many difficulties that have arisen in the past as a result of the Israeli military presence in the West Bank.

I have known these two Palestinians for years and can assure you that their only interest is in feeding their families and raising their children. I’ve employed them as gardeners, taken Arabic lessons from one of them, and assisted them in finding other work in the Bakaa area of Jerusalem where I live, only about 8 kilometers from Bethlehem.

Given the current circumstances of Palestinians in the West Bank, I can neither publicize the true names or post photographs of the two families. But here are a few details about their personal circumstances …

Achmed is the head of an extended family which includes his three older children, two of whom are married, one with three children. . None of them have been able to work since the beginning of the war. Achmed’s first wife died after years fighting an auto-immune disease, and he now has three young children, ages 7, 9 and 12, with his second wife.

The second is a family with three small children, ages 3, 5 and 7. The father, Hassan, has a BA in physical education, but there are very few opportunities in the area for Phys Ed teachers and he was never able to find work in his profession. He is a hard worker and a wonderful father who is totally committed to his children, always looking for ways to ensure their future.

Within the current context in the West Bank these families must think of alternative ways to make a living. Fortunately, there are a few opportunities. First of all, they both have plots of land that are legally theirs and easily accessible from their homes. They therefore have decided to turn to farming, both to feed themselves and to sell surplus produce to others. Over the last year, with the help of donations from this GoFundMe campaign, they have prepared the land for cultivation, planted trees, sabras (cacti with edible fruits), and a few more crops which were able to survive the dry summer season. They now need to install watering systems in preparation for next year's dry summer months, including reservoirs large enough to guarantee a sufficient supply of water for the coming years. For this they need to rent excavators, and to install pumps and pipes. The reservoirs should be completed as quickly as possible, before the rainy season which usually starts mid October-November. This makes the availability of sufficient funds all the more urgent.

In addition to that, Hassan has the opportunity to invest in an ongoing local venture which ensures the supply of basic food items in these difficult times. Over the last few years he has managed to save the lion’s share of what he needs to make this investment. Helping him meet the required amount to join this group of neighbours would ensure a small monthly income to supplement whatever he would make from farming.

I know that many of you have recently donated to the many urgent causes needed in this area of the world. Unfortunately, simple Palestinian families have received almost no financial aid, not from recognized international organizations, Jewish organizations or private donors, and certainly not from the Palestinian Authority who distribute funds only to their own leadership.

I am hopeful that you will find it in your hearts to help. Even the smallest donation will be appreciated.

Thank you for your willingness to consider aiding these two families.