AMMAN — Twitter users are calling on people for a boycott of Jordan
EcoPark, an ecotourism destination in the north of Jordan that promotes environmental protection and education, for its alleged normalization of the
Israeli occupation.
اضافة اعلان
Specifically, activists are taking issue with the fact that EcoPark was developed by EcoPeace — an environmental peacebuilding organization that “brings together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists,” with offices based in Amman, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv.
“Our primary objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect our shared environmental heritage. … to advance both sustainable regional development and the creation of necessary conditions for lasting peace,” EcoPeace’s website reads.
It adds that the organization emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation in mitigating the water crisis and that such a challenge “knows no borders”.
This did not sit well with many Twitter users, who vehemently opposed EcoPeace’s claim that all sides are equally affected by the water crisis.
“The audacity of calling it a ‘shared water problem’ while in 2016 Jordanian farmers threatened legal action against Israel, accusing it of overpumping water from the Jordan River for settlement agriculture in the West Bank,” wrote one user.
Another user replied to the original thread calling for the boycott, writing “This is such disappointing news. EcoPark is one of the places that people have on their to-do lists when visiting Jordan.”
Many shared the sentiment, while others expressed concern regarding the potential effects of the boycott.
“What about the poor workers at EcoPark, especially given that they are some of the poorest people in the country. … Are you gonna find them other job opportunities?” wrote one user.
EcoPark released a statement rejecting accusations of its connections to Israel.
“Regarding what is being shared on social media about EcoPark being funded and owned by Israeli authorities, we can confirm that EcoPark was built by Jordanian hands and is run by the
Earth and Environment Protection Association, which is a national association under the registry of Jordanian associations. … We urge you not to share any misleading information.” the statement read.
Criticism of EcoPark is emblematic of a larger movement calling for the boycott of Israel that picked up momentum following Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
In recent weeks, protesters have taken to the streets to demand the abolishment of Jordan’s gas deal with Israel and the severing of diplomatic ties. Many are also planning to participate in an initiative to turn off their circuit breakers for an hour on Saturday to protest the gas deal.
Read more
National
.jpg)
.jpg)
