Newsletter (May - July) 2023

Exposing Northern hegemony over civil society representation at FAO’s dialogue in Rome

“We reject the Global North’s monopolization of the partnership mechanism between FAO and the international civil society” – APN Chairperson of the Board, Razan Zuayter, during FAO’s dialogue on FAO-CSO engagement held in Rome on 6 June 2023.

APN plants 20,000 fruit trees to support the resilience of Jenin

APN embarked on a significant project to plant 20,000 trees encompassing various varieties such as olives, stone fruits, pomegranates, figs, and grapes. This expansive initiative covers an area of 1,015 dunums, strategically aimed at bolstering the resilience of 189 agricultural families comprising 1,386 individuals.

The "10 Million Trees" project would be sustainable if their socioeconomic value were considered. What if our input was considered in the project design before it faltered?

Zuayter reveals that APN had communicated repeatedly with relevant authorities in 2020 to express the importance of planting productive trees and involving specialized agricultural organizations and local communities to ensure the success of the national afforestation project, aimed at planting 10 million trees. In spite of its lack of achievement, the government's recent endorsement of the project, occurring three years after its launch, has left us confused.

APN General Manager withdraws from an EU training session in Italy attended by Israelis

APN General Manager, Mariam Al Jaajaa, gave a strong statement of protest and withdrew from the "Regional Training and Study Tour on Optimal Irrigation Management" organized by the European Union (EU) in Bari – Italy because of the presence of an Israeli delegation.

APN celebrates its “Wheat of Resilience” campaign in Tubas

Following the successful response to APN’s appeal by its supporters and their unwavering support to the farmers in protecting their lands from confiscation through the "Wheat of Resilience" campaign, a plentiful harvest was sowed from 500 dunums of land in Tubas, a Palestinian town in the Northern Jordan Valley.

APN, a speaker at the European Palestinians Conference in Sweden attended by 15,000 people

APN concluded its tour in Sweden, which included active participation as a speaker at the 20th European Palestinians Conference in the city of Malmo. Additionally, they held numerous meetings and encounters with Arab and international individuals who advocate for the Palestinian cause in various cities in Sweden.

APN presents an honorary shield to Tushar Gandhi, grandson of Gandhi, at the "International Forum of Ambassadors of Return to Palestine" in Lebanon

APN Chairperson of the Board, Razan Zuayter, and APN Co-founder and Agricultural Advisor, Hassan Al Jaajaa, were invited to participate in the " International Forum of Ambassadors of Return to Palestine" held in Lebanon, and organized by the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine. The event brought together political, cultural, and artistic figures from more than 24 countries around the world.

Zuayter presents recommendations for the Arab Food Security Strategy at the League of Arab States (LAS)

Razan Zuayter, a member of the Sub-committee for the Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region at the League of Arab States (LAS), APN Chairperson of the Board, and the Founder of the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty, conducted a critical analysis and delivered her feedback on the proposed Arab Food Security Strategy.

The 32nd Arab National Conference adopts APN’s "Million Tree Campaign"

The 32nd Arab National Conference adopted the Million Tree Campaign, a green resistance launched by APN under the slogan "They uproot one, we plant ten".

1,000 fruit trees to achieve sustainable development across four governorates with Bank al Etihad

As part of multiple local activities spanning four Jordanian governorates, from Irbid in the north to Balqa in the central region, passing through Karak in the south and reaching Aqaba, the Green Caravan programme planted 1,000 fruit trees with the support of Bank al Etihad, one of APN’s golden sponsors.

2000 fruit trees breaks the settlements’ enclosure of Beit Ummar in Hebron

Inspired by their daily steadfastness, APN supported the farmers of Beit Ummar through the Million Tree Campaign in Palestine by planting 2,000 fruit trees, including stone fruits and grapes, spanning across 48 dunums. This endeavor aims to support 18 farming families who courageously refuse to abandon their lands despite the violent colonial aggression they face.

APN plants 500 trees that now provide oxygen for 1,000 individuals in Al-Amiriyah in partnership with MetLife

Together with our dedicated volunteers from MetLife, we successfully planted 500 fruit trees, including olive and grape trees, in Al-Amiriyah - South Amman.

APN plants 200 olive trees in southern Amman with support from Capital Bank

PN planted 200 olive trees in Netil - Al-Jizah, as part of the Green Caravan programme, with support from Capital Bank whose employees voluntarily partook in the activity. The objective was to foster sustainable development, safeguard the environment, and provide support to the dedicated farmers in the area.

APN lectures on the importance of agriculture and environmental resistance at the 5th Jordan BDS youth summer camp

APN conducted an awareness lecture as part of its "If Only You Knew" campaign with the boys and girls participating in the fifth "Ard" camp, organized by Jordan BDS Youth.

APN plants 1,000 trees to confront the settlers of “Kiryat Arba” in collaboration with Abu Shakra

APN successfully planted 1,000 fruit trees on a land situated just 10 meters away from the settlement of "Kiryat Arba", known for having some of the most violent settlers in the region.

200 trees complement traditional water harvesting in Al-Amiriyah with support from Cedar Maritime Agencies

The innovative initiative of constructing natural dams implemented by the local farmers in Al-Amiriyag caught our attention, prompting us to extend our support to the local community by planting 200 stone fruits and olive trees, contributed by Cedar Maritime Agencies, as part of the Green Caravan programme.

APN attends the first national gathering for The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) – Yemen, and plants trees in Palestine on behalf of the participants

APN received an invitation from the Coordinating Secretariat of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement – Yemen to participate in the first national gathering for Yemeni food partners, held in Amman.

APN replants 258 trees uprooted by Israeli settlers in Kafr ad-Dik

APN’s team visited the village of Kafr ad-Dik to support the exceptional resilience of the farmer in the face of settler violence by replanting 258 trees as compensation for his loss.

APN plants 330 fruit trees in Ma’an to welcome the Hajj season

To welcome the Hajj season - 1444 AH, APN planted 330 fruit trees including olives, grapes, and stone fruits, for the benefit of seven farming families in Ma'an, a renowned city known as the "Pilgrim City".

APN conducts an awareness lecture at Al-Hussein Secondary School for Girls in Zarqa

Al-Hussein Secondary School for Girls in Zarqa hosted APN’s team as part the "If Only You Knew" programme to deliver an awareness lecture on food sovereignty and the importance of supporting the environmental and agricultural sectors in Jordan.

Zuayter calls for a comprehensive regional strategy for wheat cultivation during ESCWA's Arab Bread Day seminar

During her intervention at ESCWA's Arab Bread Day seminar, Zuayter emphasized that the lack of political will is the root cause of the decline in wheat cultivation in our countries. She proposed the implementation of a comprehensive regional strategy for wheat cultivation to achieve food sovereignty in the Arab world.

200 trees to protect Qalqilya from Ma'ale Shomron settlement with support from Haitham Atteyeh and his family

In the heart of the province, the people of Qalqilya recognize the importance of taking action to safeguard their livelihoods, and secure their existence amidst the ongoing struggle over their lands. In response to this call, APN plants 200 citrus trees, contributed by Mr. Haitham Atteyeh and his family, to support a farmer who aspires that his harvest will reach Jordan and the Gulf.

APN plants 200 fruits trees in As-Subayhi in partnership with Estarta Solutions

In commemoration of Earth Day, APN, with support from Estarta Solutions, planted 200 fruit trees in the Al-Bayouda - As-Subayhi area in the city of As-Salt.

Three students from Cambridge School launch their first tree-planting campaign with the support of APN

Malak Hamoud, Jude Abu Hassan, and Haya Mukhlis, three exceptional eighth-grade students at Cambridge School, have taken the initiative to transform one of their academic requirements into a meaningful project. They approached APN with the idea of launching a campaign focused on tree planting and community support.

Zuayter actively participates in the 9th meeting of the Sub-Committee for the Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region

Razan Zuayter, APN Chairperson of the Board, actively participated in the 9th meeting of the Sub-Committee for the Eradication of Hunger in the Arab Region, affiliated with the League of Arab States (LAS).

PCFS condemns Israel’s incursion in Jenin and demands accountability for the occupation’s crimes

PCFS denounced Zionist Israel for its two-day large-scale incursion in Jenin City and the aerial raids in Gaza, just days after the Eid festival.

200 trees protect a land near Highway 60 south of Jerusalem contributed by Khalid Al-Qarout and his family

In a remarkable agricultural activity south of Jerusalem, along Highway 60, where security restrictions prohibit Palestinians from accessing the area, APN partnered with a farmer to plant 200 fruit trees contributed by Khalid Al-Qarout and his family.

Over 120 students from ACS school accompany APN’s “Green Caravan” to plant 220 trees

Over 120 students from the American Community School collaborated with APN in three diverse on-site activities to plant trees.

Graduates of Amman National School honor their teachers by planting trees in Palestine

The graduates of 2023 at Amman National School gifted 24 trees to the Million Tree Campaign in Palestine as a heartfelt gesture to the school's educational and administrative staff for their dedicated efforts.

APN speaks about climate justice at the “CSOs and a Just Transition in the MENA” conference in Beirut

‏APN was invited to speak on the first panel at the conference entitled “Civil Society Organizations and a Just Transition in the Middle East and North Africa: Challenges and Opportunities” which was organized by the Arab Reform Initiative and held in Beirut. During the intervention, APN emphasized the need for transparency and cooperation with genuine civil society and stressed the need to address the root causes of climate vulnerability specifically in areas affected by wars and occupation.

200 grape trees protect a land south of Jerusalem from confiscation with support from Ibrahim Shaaban and his children

APN stepped in to support a farmer from Al-Khader village, located south of Jerusalem, by providing 200 grape seedlings and irrigation water, making the journey to the land on foot. The farmer emphasized that land is at the core of the conflict with the occupiers, and neglecting it would only result in its theft. Despite the challenging conditions, the farmer remains committed to cultivating his land.

Ahliyyah and Mutran Schools support APN’s “Green Caravan” by sponsoring 115 fruit trees

In a remarkable event, APN's team, accompanied by the families of students from Ahliyyah and Mutran Schools and in collaboration with Al-Balqa Innovation Association, ventured to the As-Subayhi area in As-Salt city to plant 115 fruit trees, commemorating the spirit of World Earth Day.

“If Only You Knew” participates in the "Yalla Shabab" conference at Ahliyyah and Mutran Schools

The Ahliyyah and Mutran Schools extended an invitation to the APN to participate in the annual youth conference "Yalla Shabab.

APN speaks at ILPS's dialogue on the current situation in Sudan

ILPS organized a dialogue session to discuss the current situation in Sudan in response to the request of ILPS member and APN Chairperson of the Board, Razan Zuayter. The session was facilitated by Zuayter and featured keynote speakers including APN Media Coordinator, Asmaa Awwad, former Sudanese parliamentarian and political and social activist, Abla Mahdi Abdel-Munim, ILPS Vice President, Malcolm Jay, and ILPS Regional Coordinator, Sony Oliveira.

APN plants 200 trees of hope in Arrabet Jenin with support from Jumana Al-Saket

APN planted 200 citrus and olive trees on a piece of land owned by a struggling agricultural family in Arrabet Jenin, an agricultural hub for “Sumoud” in the heart of Palestine This effort comes at a crucial time when the occupation is threatening to confiscate their land, offering them a glimmer of hope amidst their economic hardships.

APN plants 100 olive trees to support an agricultural family from Netil village in collaboration with "Leaf a Mark" initiative

In collaboration with "Leaf a Mark" initiative launched by Cairo Amman Bank, APN planted 100 olive trees for an agricultural family in Netil village, south of Amman. These trees will cover the family’s olive oil needs, and support their livelihood.

APN holds awareness lectures with students from the American Community School

As part of APN’s “If Only You Knew” awareness campaign, APN delivered two online lectures about the significance of the agricultural and environmental sectors to a group of eager school students from the American Community Schools, with ages ranging from 10 to 17 years old.

APN intervenes at the 9th Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) Partners Meeting

APN General Manager, Mariam Al Jaajaa, highlighted APN's comprehensive study titled "Land and Conflict in the Arab Region”, conducted in collaboration with UN-Habitat and the Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) during the 9th GLTN Partners Meeting.