Planting Solidarity Between Israeli and Palestinian Farmers

On Friday over 150 Israelis and 150 Palestinians worked together to replace the many Olive trees that were ripped up by hostile settlers. For many farmers in Palestine, Olive growing is their liveliehood. The weather and soil is ideal for growing.
I think these 150 Israeli people showed themselves to be true humanitarians working with the Palestinians like this instead of alienating them. If only more took the cue on both sides , that country would be an awesome place. Its just a shame it isn't more often that these acts of kindness don't take place.

Hundreds take part in joint Israeli-Palestinian tree planting

By Eli Asheknazi, Haaretz Correspondent

Over 150 Israelis and 150 Palestinians planted nearly 1,200 olive trees on Friday next to the West Bank village of Salam, near Nablus.

The ceremony took part under the slogan, "planting solidarity between Israeli and Palestinian farmers." The trees were planted in an area where hundreds of trees had been uprooted or cut down in recent years, many of them by Israeli settlers living nearby.

The plantings were carried out by initiative of the kibbutz movement under the leadership of Yoel Marshak. According to organizers, "In honor of the Jewish holiday of Tu Bishvat we want to send a message of solidarity between Israeli and Palestinian farmers, and to emphasize the importance of the rule of law."

Planting seeds of Peace?

There is also an israeli-palestinian co-operative organisation who rebuild houses for those made homeless by the IDF demolitions...only by working together can problems and conflicts be resolved

[edit on 3-2-2007 by citizen smith]

Originally posted by citizen smith
There is also an israeli-palestinian co-operative organisation who rebuild houses for those made homeless by the IDF demolitions...only by working together can problems and conflicts be resolved

Yes thats another great cause which I have seen on film, but the olive trees will at least help in getting some trade going. The Palestinians had formed some Olive Oil Co-operatives and went through a lot of troubles to get certifications only to have a big majority of their groves seperated from them by the apartheid wall or malicious settlers. Many times they are forced to miss their harvests simply because of some IDF soldier at a checkpoint won't let them pass.

I hope things like this multiply, because you are right...more gets accomplished when you have 2 working towards a common goal.


Pie

notice how none of this is reported by the American media, in the american media palestinians are always critisized for not using 'peaceful' means to get their rights, but when they do hold peaceful protests, especially with israeli peace activists, it is completly ignored by the news media which only reports on violence

The event didn't rate a mention in the American media because there was no American involvement. This event proves that the best way to defeat extremists is to have moderators come together despite what ever happens. Such an approach only works a government and a society exist in geographical sense.

Take Iraq for example the country like most in the Middle East only exists on a map hence one of the reasons the country is in a civil war.