Israeli-Palestinian solidarity in the south Hebron hills

A short film on Comet-ME’s new centre for renewable energy

Medico partner Comet-ME, an Israeli-Palestinian organization providing basic energy services to off-grid communities using environmentally and socially sustainable methods, has just opened its new center. The centre will serve as the regional base of operations for maintenance and installation activities, workshop and warehouse, a training centre for staff, community supervisors and guests, a place for meeting and collaboration with other NGOs and community members, and in the future also as a research and development centre for rural technologies and a volunteer and intern centre.

<iframe width="550" height="309" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/00ltM3iI7mQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

The centre is located in South Mount Hebron, in one of the Palestinian communities Comet-ME serves. The renovation work made sure to preserve local style, using materials and design from the region, while placing great emphasis on using sustainable methodologies, from natural insulation and climate compatibility to a gray water system. And of course: it runs exclusively on electricity from the sun and wind.

Some 1,600 Palestinians in the south Hebron hills are dependent on alternative, decentralized regenerative energy supply, because the Israeli authorities prevent them and other Palestinians living in Area C (the rural parts of the West Bank, all in all some 60% of the West Bank) from being connected to conventional electricity grids. Contrary to International Humanitarian Law, the Israelis authorities subsidize the neighbouring Israeli settlements, while forbidding the Palestinians in Area C to build kindergartens or primary health care clinics. A policy of targeted de-development aimed at forcing the Palestinian population in Area C, some 150,000 people, into the densely populated urban enclaves of Ramallah or Hebron.

This project was made possible through the financial support of the German Foreign Office.

Published: 11. February 2013

Donate Now!