On September 3rd, Ecopeace held a large cross-border Green Economy Initiative’s (GEI) event, which took place at a beautiful horse-riding farm in Tzur Hadassah, a community located in central Israel. 
Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian GEI participants, EcoPeace staff and locals came together to celebrate their achievements and newfound enrichments thanks to the initiative. The event allowed these participants to exchange ideas on advancing cooperative measures among businesses in crossborder communities and how to work towards sustainable use of shared environmental resources.
The evening’s first item on the program was a visit to the surrounding countryside: the whole group 
did a brief hike around the beautiful landscape of the Judean Hills, which ended at a lookout point on Jerusalem during sunset.
After returning to the horse farm the group enjoyed regional, organic food and had the opportunity to learn more about local products. At the visitor center fresh baked bread was served with vegetables and homemade lemonade and included a terrace overlooking the riding arena. Palestinian schoolgirls sold self-made beauty products that smelled of honey and chocolate. Another stand had hand-stitched bags while a different one showed preserved vegetables and olive oil.
The EcoPeace Team was also happy to announce the launch of four new cross-border itineraries. These tours, which are undertaken by tour operators and tour guides, are an effort to develop “green“ regional cross-border tourist itineraries: One bicycle, two hiking and one general tour itineraries were finalized and are now being marketed. Travel operators from the region worked together to form these exciting tours. There is the Pedaling Coexistence, Cross Border Bicycle Itinerary, the Regional Eco-Hiking Itinerary, the Cross Border Jordan Valley Hiking Itinerary and the “Nature and Culture” Itinerary.
These Tours are a unique opportunity to experience three separate countries, fantastic natural environments and a mix of cultures. All four tours were born out of the EcoPeace vision of promoting both regional co-operation and the protection of shared environ
mental heritage. The tours are part of an economic approach creating healthy interdependencies and diversifying income for our Good Water Neighbors communities.
Speeches and a slide show were followed by live music.
For more information about the individual itineraries look at EcoPeace’s website: http://foeme.org/www/?module=projects&record_id=244
This project made possible with the generous support of the American people 
Media Department – EcoPeace