Two Thousand Olive Trees are to be uprooted in Palestine

לקריאת עמוד זה בעברית הקש כאן

The trees have been planted by farmers on their own lands in the area of Wadi Kana. This valley has been designated as a nature reserve by the Civil administration (The Israeli military-based administration of the Palestinian occupied territories). The farmers had no say in the creation of the nature reserve on their land; there was no process that took into account their needs.

The farmers have already passed the deadline of the order to uproot their own trees, now the Israeli army may come any day to uproot them and charge the farmers for the work carried out.

Meanwhile no action has been taken to remove 22 buildings of the illegal Jewish outpost of Alonei Shiloh all of which is entirely in the area of the nature reserve. In addition to this, 123 buildings from the neighbouring Jewish settlements are within the nature reserve. Some of these buildings have demolition orders, some even for some time, but no action has been taken.

It is appalling that the Civil administration is planning to enforce the uprooting of 2000 olive trees. This is an act of destruction with no consideration of the farmers hard work and the consequences to their livelihoods.

For some of the farmers this is not the first time they are having trees uprooted, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to fund the replanting of their orchards.

We are asking for your help to stop this happening.

We have composed a letter to send to the relevant people in the Civil Administration, IDF, Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Ministry of Defence. We feel that the more of us who send this letter the more attention this issue will receive.

To read and / or send the letter

על מנת לקרוא ולשלוח את המכתב בעברית הקישו כאן

As a further act of solidarity and support for the livelihoods of the farmers, consider buying them a young olive tree. It is surprisingly cheap.

One Olive tree costs 15 Shekels. ($ 4, € 3, £ 2.50)

All the money raised will go directly to the farmers, we will cover all fees, and will take no percentage.

To add a little spice, we have set up a way to buy an olive tree on behalf of Ehud Barak, the Israeli Minister of Defence.

The tree will still go to the farmers of Wadi Kana. But we will inform Ehud Barak that you have done this kind act on his behalf. 

Naturally we will also let the farmers know that you have bought them a tree!

This way the Wadi Kana farmers will get the support they need, while the Minister of Defence will get a very clear message.

It is possible to do all of this anonymously, or with your real name and email.

To buy an Olive tree for the farmers of Wadi Kana

Send up to 5 Trees

One Tree £2.50 GBP Two Trees £5.00 GBP Three Trees £7.50 GBP Four Trees £10.00 GBP Five Trees £12.50 GBP

After you buy the tree through PayPal you will be redirected to a page where you can choose to let Ehud Barak know what you have done. 

Feel free to skip this stage if you wish.

Here is what the email will say:

Subject: "YourName" wants you to stop the uprooting of 2000 Olive Trees

Hello Ehud Barak

2000 trees are scheduled to be uprooted in Wadi Kana. 

You have the power to stop this. 

To help I've bought you an Olive tree, but I've given it on your behalf to the farmers of Wadi Kana.

I think they need it more than you do. 

I hope you will be part of the solution.

שלום אהוד ברק,

אלפיים עצים מועדים לכריתה בואדי קנה 

בידיך הכח לעצור את כריתתם 

כאקט של תמיכה קניתי לך שתיל עץ זית, והענקתי אותו בשמך לחקלאים מואדי קנה 

תחושתי שהם זקוקים לו כרגע יותר ממך

,בוא נחזיר את התקווה לאזורינו, בוא נפעל יחד למען השלום והצדק 

מאת "YourName"