Plant an olive tree in Palestine for just £6 (approx $10)
During 2015, Volunteer in Palestine (VIP) has helped Palestinian farmers and landowners in Palestine to plant olive trees on their land. VIP has been part of projects that succeeded in planting nearly 2500 olive trees, as well as other trees that traditionally are also found planted on olive fields in Palestine e.g.: Figs, Almonds and Pomegranates.
Over the years in Palestine, successive Israeli Governments have been involved in varying policies of Land Grab. Their main aim has been the theft of property belonging to Palestinian communities and families. Such Policies arose out of the selective application of land laws found within the legal systems of regimes that ruled over Occupied Palestine (including the West Bank) pre 1967; e.g.: Jordanian Land Laws, British Mandate Land Laws and even Ottoman Land Laws. This ongoing policy has resulted in the loss of huge portions of Land that has been used for the benefit of Israel and Israelis residing inside the Occupied West Bank.
To get to the point of Land Theft, The state of Israel has developed a comprehensive system that prevents Palestinian land owners from living on, and the development of their properties and land that are located under direct Israeli military and state control (AKA Area C in the West Bank)
In order to support the remaining Palestinians who have not yet fell victims to such Israeli policies, VIP Olives aims to empower Palestinians to stay on their land through helping with planting the land. Planting olive trees as well as other trees is one of the best/easiest ways to help counter destructive measures by Israel.
Palestinians in general understand the cultural, economic and religious importance of the olive tree. Today the same olive tree continues to be passed from one generation to the other, just as it has been done over the last 5000 years. Its symbolism and importance continues to gain traction in the just struggle of a Palestinian man or woman, who wishes to keep the land they inherited, and perhaps pass it on in a better condition to future generations.
The regime of the State of Israel equally understands this importance, and this is precisely the reason why the regime has been involved in the ongoing destruction of thousands of olive trees.
The state of Israel, through its government, army, and settlers has been responsible for the destruction of more than 800.000 Palestinian olive trees over the last few years, with a year seldom passing by without any form destruction taking place, since the State of Israel was formed in Palestine in May 1948.
Under such conditions, the remaining Palestinian land owners have one of 2 options, either to give up to the oppressive power of the State of Israel, give up and watch their land be stolen, or continue to struggle against such destruction by continually planting and farming their land.
VIP Olives is an initiative that supports the second option: continue to plant, continue to struggle and continue to believe that oppression will not last and justice will prevail.
With every pound you donate, VIP Olives can help a farmer plant the best olive trees available in Palestinian olive nurseries. Furthermore, we provide these trees with guarantees for natural survival, like protective agricultural tubes and other services!
VIP Olives is hoping to plant more than 1000 olive trees between January and March 2016, and we need your help and support to be able to do so. We hope many of these trees will be planted during VIP’s upcoming tree planting programme in Palestine (dates 13th-21st February 2016).
One olive tree costs just £6 and it will help by:
- Providing food, oil and medicine for hundreds of years
- Saving Palestinian land from Israeli theft
- Assisting Palestinians, for whom this remains their main source of livelihood
So what are you waiting for?.. Fund an olive tree today for the beautiful land of Palestine :)
If you have any questions, regarding our VIP Olives programme, feel free to e-mail us on info@volunteerinpalestine.co.uk, and we will be happy to help answer any queries.
Thank you, Shukran, Gracias, Grazie and Merci from all at VIP Olives
