February 26, 12:00 PM EST - Virtual
Jericho: Virtual Delegation and Discussion
Eyewitness Palestine is excited to travel with you virtually to Jericho on Feb 26. Our most recent delegation, D74, spent a day with local guides, Tariq and Qusai who took them all over the city showcasing the beauty and the struggles of locals in this historical city.
Our local guides took us to the spring that belongs to the Ein El Duyke neighborhood that is constantly occupied by settlers protected by IOF soldiers, restricting their ability to use their own spring.
History of Jericho
Jericho—Arīḥā in Arabic—is one of the earliest cities in the world, dating back to 9000 B.C.E. according to archeological evidence. Jericho is significant for many other reasons, including the fact that it is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world and it is also the lowest city in the world at 258 meters (846 ft) below sea level. It is located in a valley known as Wadi Qelt in occupied Palestine, with the River Jordan to its east and Jerusalem (al-Quds) to its west. In 2023, the archaeological site in the center of the city, known as Tell es-Sultan / Old Jericho, was inscribed in UNESCO's list as a World Heritage Site in the State of Palestine, and described as the “oldest fortified city in the world.”
Beyond its rich archeological significance and history, Jericho is also a point of biblical significance, known for being the first town attacked by the Israelites under Joshua after they crossed the River Jordan. Its beautiful and ancient palm trees also have record in the Bible. Jericho's name in Arabic, Arīḥā, means 'fragrant' and also has its roots in Canaanite Reaẖis, generally thought to derive from the Canaanite word rēḥ 'fragrant', but other theories hold that it originates in the Canaanite word Yaraḥ 'moon' or the name of the lunar deity Yarikh, for whom the city was an early center of worship. Today, the city's population sits at a humble 56,00 residents (2021) and includes a population of Afro-Palestinians who have long-called Palestine home and a population of roughly 13,000 internally displaced Palestinian refugees. Jericho's beautiful landscape is home to luscious water springs and fertile agricultural lands that grow a variety of native produce.
Click here to sign up for this months Virtual Delegation to Jericho