Good Water Neighbors at YOCOPAS Conference 
On December 10 and 11, Palestinian and Israeli Alumni and Youth "Water Trustees" participated in the first Regional Youth Conference for Peace and Sustainability (YOCOPAS) hosted by the Eastern Mediterranean International School at HaKfar HaYarok. The youth also took part in a role-play simulation that used aspects of the EcoPeace Environmental Education Resource Guide to experiment with power relations among stakeholders in different watersheds.
Water Trustees Experience Transboundary Water
 The local Community Coordinator of the Kishon Watershed took a group of 10th grade Water Trustees on a Neighbors Path tour to better understand transboundary water basins and the relationship between humans and the environment. The visit also demonstrated the cultural heritage of the region where stories from the Bible take place in this special landscape. The group started at an impressive overlook near the entrance to Moshav Barak and continued on to Ramon, where the Kishon stream crosses the Green Line, coming from Jenin. Later they held an improvisation play about the history of the place and continued on to Kishon Park to learn about the rehabilitation of the polluted stream and steps being taken to remove heavy metals from the water.
Workshop Tour to the Judean Hills Springs
The first of a series of on-site workshop tours to the Judean Hills Mountain Springs was held on December 25th. The workshop series is an outcome of the Mountain Springs Masterplan initiated by EcoPeace. Cooperation with the Soreq Environmental Unit and Nature & Parks Authority brought about this exciting program in which local activists meet with a wide range of professionals to gain knowledge and awareness of conservation and development around the local springs and terraces.
Fifteen residents from around Mate Yehuda as well as hydro-therapists from Tel Aviv participated. They were introduced to a variety of issues and opinions that mark the mountain springs as "hotspots" in our environment and culture. The next meeting will be held in February focusing on the local habitat, ecosystem and archeology. If you are interested in joining please contact us at [email protected].
Full Moon Xmas Hike with Auja EcoCenter
 On December 25th, a group of 15 people from France, U.S., Belgium, Germany, and Palestine participated in Auja EcoCenter’s Full Moon Hike to see and experience the local environment and wild life at night. The hike started from Auja on Highway 90, winding between the area's farms and agricultural fields. The hike is done without the use of artificial light and requires participants to use all of their senses, including sight, and hearing and touch under the light of just the moon. The hike ended with an authentic Bedouin dinner where food is cooked in an underground pit (Zarb). Future hikes are planned for the late winter and early spring.
Come join us in a Mud Workshop in our Ein Gedi EcoCenter! 
Come join us! 2 days of a fun mud ecological experience in our Ein Gedi EcoCenter!
We invite you to a natural fun building activity with mud.
Let’s connect with nature, Mother Earth and nice people.
No special knowledge required. Only motivation, a good mood and work clothes!
Pizza from an earthen oven will be sold on premises!
Friday and Saturday, January 8 and 9 between the hours of 10:00 - 14:00.
If interested or for further details contact [email protected]
EcoPeace’s Good Water Neighbors project is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
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Both events brought together experts, stakeholders, scholars, environmental activists and government officials to discuss the national report of the project. The Amman conference was divided into four sessions, which included presentations by the CEO’s of Kawar Energy and Philadelphia Solar who spoke about their successes and challenges in relation to renewable energy. The 
The Arab Peace Initiative organized a conference on December 17th to highlight the positive contribution religion can bring to societies to foster understanding and peace. The conference was organized in the framework of the EU’s Partnership for Peace Program. A number of religious leaders and political figures from Palestine, Jordan and Israel presented and attended. The second conference, the Arab Peace Initiative: Towards the State of Palestine on the Ground discussed the Arab Peace Initiative in light of the decisions of the 2015 Arab Summit in Cairo.
EcoPeace’s Israeli Director, Gidon Bromberg, Palestinian Director, Nader Khateeb, and Jordanian Assistant Director, Yana Abu Taleb visited the U.S. in the early part of December. Key meetings included a briefing on Gaza in the House of Representatives and presentation of our Water Energy Nexus project to the World Bank. We would also like to congratulate Congress for releasing funds to USAID West Bank / Gaza as these are urgently needed to solve Gaza’s water and sanitation issues.
