Arab Group for the Protection of Nature (APN), in cooperation with the Al-Nahda Rural Society, funded by donors from Malaysia, constructed a new 80 cubic meter capacity agricultural well in Khirbet al-Jabal, a community in the village of Beit Sureek, Jerusalem, in April 2016.

The well is the final part of a tree planting project in the area which will strengthen the resilience of farmers and create additional support for them to remain on their land. This will help to secure the water necessary for irrigating the trees that were planted over an area of 65 dunums to benefit 20 families.

Khirbet al-Jabal is the highest mountain in the village of Beit Sureek,  720 meters above sea level, thus making it a strategic location that overlooks Jerusalem, Deir Yassin, Ein Karem, and Lefta.

The community is bordered by Israeli settlements on three sides. Land in the community is owned by several different families, who live both inside and outside Jerusalem. Israel has seized the lower part of the mountain for the Jerusalem Light Rail.APN’s third Million Tree Campaign is interested in rehabilitating land in Khirbet al-Jabal by planting different varieties of fruit trees, including almonds, olives, and grapes. The campaign has also constructed a fence around the entire plot of land to protect it from animals and from the occupation forces which often sabotage new plantings. Follow the link below for more photos: