Arabs, Israelis Work Jointly to Increase Agricultural Output in Jericho

Jericho, which lies 1,000 feet below sea level near the north shore of the Dead Sea was cited by Arab and Israeli spokesmen today as an outstanding example of the bene- fits Jewish-Arab cooperation can bring. The occasion was the opening of the agricultural fair attended by some 5,000 Arab villagers from all over the West Bank, Arab notables and representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture and the Military government. Political differences were buried as the throng examined some of the latest farm equipment and the excellent fruits and vegatables produced in the warm, sunny climate of Jericho when most of Europe is blanketed with snow. Jericho’s Mayor Sheikh Salah Abdi, sponsored the fair jointly with the farm department of the West Bank Military government. He said, “Please tell the world that Jericho is a quiet city. There has been no fighting here and there will be no fighting. We want to work in peace and we shall welcome visitors who would like to see for themselves what it is like here.” Amir Taha, the regional agricultural officer for the Ministry of Agriculture, said, “I am not speaking now as an Arab but as a human being and a farmer. I want to say that thanks to the assistance of the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, we have increased several fold our farm yield in the Jericho region.” He said that up to 18 months ago, all farm work was done manually; now local farmers have the benefit of modern equipment.

Assahel Ben David, the Military government’s agricultural staff officer observed that before Israel’s occupation of the region in 1967, there were only 700 acres of arable land around Jericho. Now there are 3,700 acres under cultivation. Where there was one farm instructor three years ago, now there are 15 and new crops have been introduced ending the region’s dependence on the success or failure of a few staples. Ben David noted that diversified farming in Jericho employs local labor and benefits Israel by producing fresh fruit and vegetables for export. “We cannot supply enough to satisfy the European market’s appetite for fresh vegetables in winter,” he said. The Jericho region exports fresh tomatoes, aubergines, turnips, green peppers, lettuce and celery which are air freighted to Europe daily during the winter months. Much of its produce is also sold across the river in Jordan. Ben David said that agricultural development on the entire West Bank is directed by 300 local Arab instructors and 50 Israeli experts who are mainly administrative staff.