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News from the Region
2007 Olive Harvest Delegation

Report #2, Part 4 of 6
Celebrating the Harvest in Jenin

By Judy White

Jenin, November 1-2 - There were at least 1,000 men, women and children celebrating the olive harvest at the festival in Jenin. When I asked what one poignant song was about – it sounded like a love song – I was told is was an improvisation about the olive tree. Olive trees are more than an economic base to Palestinians. They are a powerful symbol of endurance and steadfastness, since they live and produce for centuries.

Horse constructed of scrap metal from destroyed cars and ambulances in Jenin refugee camp. 60% of the camp was leveled in 2002 by the Israeli Defense Force.

My thoughts, as I watched the celebration, were that these are not angry people. Of course they have anger at the occupation; because of barriers and checkpoints, an adjoining Christian village that used to be 5 minutes journey for them – we could see it easily – now is a 10-hour drive. But these people have meaningful work, and that makes all the difference. Many of them were part of the Palestine Fair Trade Association. Last year, their total income form the sale of olive oil was $250,000 higher than it would have been on the local market.

In addition, the structure of the cooperative empowers the weak (it supports women’s cooperatives and gives priority to those who aren’t landowners, or have had their groves destroyed by the Israeli military) and provides a process for expressing and resolving grievances in all aspects of their lives. More young people are now staying on the land here because of the difficulties traveling with Israeli closure policies. They say “We are resisting the occupation by insisting on life.”

In contrast, adjoining Jenin is a huge refuge camp, which we toured. The people have been here since 1948, when they were displaced by the war. No one here owns property or olive trees. In 2002 the Israeli army bulldozed 60% of the camp as part of “Operation Defensive Shield” when they re-occupied the main Palestinian cities in the West Bank. 62 people were killed in the refugee camp during the Israeli invasion. There are nightly army attacks and killings now; most buildings are riddled with bullet holes. These people have little reason to hope for a better future. Economic justice seems to first path towards peace.

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