Was UAE behind Israeli decision to allow Palestinian farmers access to Jordan Valley?
For the first time in 46 years, Israel allowed Palestinians to enter al-Qa'oun valley in the northern Jordan Valley to cultivate their land. Despite the Palestinian Authority’s statement that this was in implementation of a judicial decision, Al-Monitor received information about Emirati-Israeli understandings that led to this action.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On Dec. 28, for the first time in 46 years, Israel opened the security gate separating al-Qa'oun valley in the northern Jordan Valley from the Palestinian village of Bardala, allowing Palestinian farmers to cultivate their land there in implementation of an Israeli judicial decision.
The last time the residents of the village of Bardala entered their land in the Jordan Valley was in 1974. They were subsequently prevented from entering the area following a decision of the Israeli army, which considered it a “closed military zone.”
The land was granted to settlers to cultivate and benefit from.
However, an agreement was recently concluded between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to open and rehabilitate a road between the village of Bardala and al-Qa'oun valley and grant access to Palestinian farmers.
