19 Comments
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Beej's avatar

There seems to be absolutely no semblance of life in Palestine that the IDF doesn't relish extinguishing.

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ben's avatar

such a testament to who the real indigenous population is (not that the argument for the Zionists holds any water). it’s so clear to see who has the connection to the land.

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Hala's avatar

Absolutely. It’s part of the daily life of every Palestinian. There is a very deep connection even to the Palestinian in exile. Those that were kicked out of their homes two or three generations ago.

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1WhiteTree's avatar

Besides the wanton destruction of the olive tree born from the land like its people, its branches are a universal emblem of peace.

All who feel at-one with trees realize how deeply this strikes at the heart and soul of the Palestinian people.

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George Leone's avatar

The olive tree has always stood for peace, endurance, and rootedness. To see them cut down and wither is to witness a tragedy far beyond economics — it’s a spiritual wound on an entire nation.

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Anne Tallon's avatar

Diabolical is the only word for the levels of cruelty that Israel is perpetrating against the Palestinian people.

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Joseph Soler's avatar

The destruction of the olive groves is more evidence of the vicious settler-colonial nature of the Israeli regime. During the US American Revolution, George Washington (called "Town-Destroyer" by the Haudenosanee people), ordered a "punitive expedition" against the Haudenosanee (Iroquois) nations. One of the tactics that General Sullivan's troops utilized was called 'girdling'. They would strip the bark off of all the fruit trees in the Haudenosanne areas, which killed the trees (and was easier than having to chop them down). Destroying orchards to starve a population is a classic colonial-genocidal tactic.

That the Israelis are doing it with such relish is further proof that they have genocidal intent AND that they are not true natives of the land. True natives of the land would preserve the olive groves regardless of whatever other conflicts were occurring.

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S Again's avatar

The Olive Tree in Scripture appears so often in the OT in Palestine and Israel conceived as growing in one place. The care, respect shown for the planting of the seed, the growth of the trees, the harvest that brings together the people, and the longevity of the life-giving fruit comes to us from the trees in Gethsemane. To be a companion in the vineyard, not to uproot

S Again

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Gladwyn d'Souza's avatar

The Blue Between Sky And Water by Susan Abulhawa is a century long look back at the colonial process desecrating the sacred in Gaza where olives and oil symbolize deep cultural roots, resilience, and connection to the land in Palestine.

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huey's avatar
Oct 20Edited

Does anyone know of something decent that the Israelies have done for the Palestinian people?

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Elizabeth's avatar

You're joking, right? Death and destruction is so beneficial!

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peta's avatar

No

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Elizabeth's avatar

Were they always this awful, and we somehow didn't see it? Or has the society gotten so much worse? Now it seems as though Israelis are mostly full blown psychopaths.

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peta's avatar

They were always this awful. But mainstream media has never covered it. With independent media, internet, etc., people outside of the region finally we are witnessing these atrocities. It’s just as bad in southern Lebanon and West Bank of course. Israel is a scourge like locusts against nature. And humanity.

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ROSANNE SLOANE's avatar

The olive trees have been symbolic for loss since 1948. Europeans have taken over the land, the farmers and turned the owners out into the street. If the Olive tree is symbolic of the survival of Palestine, it seems what started in 1948 is now coming to it's grim conclusion.

It is a genocide. We are killing Palestinians, we first stole their land and now we destroy the entire Gaza so not even the ancient olive trees are left. Genocide is not just the killing of people. It is the killing of what made them thrive, even after 1948, the olive trees. A loss for the world, not just Gaza

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Judy Turner's avatar

I am retired and have six acres of olives. We just harvested my crop -- a very good crop -- just over 25 tons! I was deeply touched by the report about Gaza's decimated olive crop. How can I help them?

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peta's avatar

I just wrote to my senator (Adam Schiff, CA) to complain about this because he is a MAJOR AIPAC recipient, like one of the biggest in the USA. I shall now call his FRESNO CA office to complain to one of his staff. How can he represent Central California farmers when the IDF, supported by his AIPAC buddies and other pro-Israeli organizations are murdering, poisoning, digging up olive trees, etc. I hope other readers from California do likewise.

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PeteSig's avatar

Please do not publish your reports on X. I do not support X and will not even tar my eyeballs by reading anything posted on X.

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