Olive culture in Palestine

Dr. T. Jayasinghe

The Olive branch is a universal symbol of peace. This was highlighted when Chairman Yasser Arafat raised the olive branch at the UN General Assembly and declared that he is for peace in Palestine. Unfortunately the olive tree continues to be an object of conflict in Palestine.

The Olive tree is an inseparable part of Palestinian culture while playing a vital role in its agriculture, economy and national identity. As in the case of paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka there is a culture woven around the olive tree along with many rituals associated with harvesting.

In Palestine olive picking season is traditionally considered a joyous and important time specially in the villages. There are olive harvesting festivals all over Palestine. Olive picking or harvesting usually commences by end September and goes on till end November.

In Sri Lanka teachers in paddy cultivation regions complain that children do not attend schools during the paddy harvesting season but in Palestine children are given time off so that they can help their parents in this time honoured endeavour.

Harvesting or picking olive fruits is hard work as the branches of olive trees are tender and should not be broken or struck with sticks. In short there is an art of picking olive fruits. Even though the work is hard, time consuming and painstaking, families look forward to this harvesting season.

This is the time that families get together in their ancestral villages.

Those members of the families that had migrated abroad or to the cities return to the village to take part in the olive picking ritual. Apart from the family members there are the friends from the cities and volunteers from abroad. In addition to picking and sorting olive fruits this is a time of gossip, exchanging experience and of course eating and drinking. Elders in the villages look forward to this season to meet their children and grandchildren who make it a point to come during the weekend during this season.

A November issue of "This week in Palestine" gives a vivid description of the seasons activities. "October and November in Palestine are characterised by mild weather, neither too hot not too cold, making the day in the fields from the drudgery of one's daily routine. The meals are an integral part of the experience. While generally not elaborate affairs, they are made tastier due to their unique setting. One is almost sure to find home backed bread, white cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers and of course olives among other things."

"Some families bring home cooked meals to feed the hungry workers. Stories are shared over mint or sage flavoured tea". This mealtime reminds us of the 'ambula' the specially prepared meal served on a lotus leaf in the Sri Lankan villages at functions connected with paddy cultivation. The difference is the shade of the olive trees and the mild climate in Palestine.

The olive picking season keeps the olive oil mills busy. Villagers bring the picked olive fruits to these mills for processing and to make oil. Some fruits are preserved for canning and bottling with preservatives. This is a delicacy at every meal in Palestine. There is a ready made export market for olive oil and canned olive fruit and it is a fair slice of the income of villagers in Palestine.

However it is unfortunate to find the pleasant and peaceful lives of the Palestinian villagers marred by the activities of the migrant Israeli settlers who occupy the lands belonging to Palestinians. These settlers very often destroy the olive plantations by uprooting and burning them and harass the villagers. Many Palestinian villagers have lost their only source of livelihood as a result of these atrocities. Further the high security wall built across the villages separating the homes from the olive plantations prevent the farmers from harvesting the olives during the season and attending to the trees peacefully.

Farmers face problems in transporting olive oil and other byproducts due to Israeli checkpoints along the roads leading to the market.

Year by year Palestinians are losing their only source of livelihood and the occasion for the families to get together.

Dr. T. Jayasinghe, is the Representative of Sri Lanka to the Palestinian National Authority. He took part in olive harvesting in the ancient Deir Istya village in West Bank.