Olive Harvest in Palestine

international | rights, freedoms and repression | event notice Monday June 25, 2018 21:45 by Pól - ToBeThere http://tobe-there.com/en/contact-us

October is one of the best times to visit Palestine as it is the month of the olive harvest.

October 20th October 2018 - 28th October 2018
Olive harvest program October 20th 2018 - October 28th October 2018

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The olive harvest time in Palestine is a wonderful time for a visit. The trees are full of ripe olives and in solidarity with the Palestinian land owners we will be part of this traditional experience. You can either climb a tree or work down on the ground. We collect the olives on the tarps and then in buckets and bags. We will have traditional Palestinian lunch on the fields and we will visit an olive press. Besides volunteering on the land you will have the chance to discover Palestine and travel around with your guide Baha, to understand the reality of the geo-political situation. There are excursions to Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Lifta, Hebron and the South Hebron hills, Ramallah (the Arafat Museum) and Nabi Saleh, known for its continuous non violent resistance.

What are we going to do?

We will work with and have the opportunity to live amongst people in these communities, supporting four families who have olive fields within the proximity of Israeli settler colonies, near military outposts, and ‘Israeli only’ bypass roads; or have olive fields that the families cannot access or visit because of Israeli restrictions. However, you can reach these fields and ensure that the olives are safely harvested contributing to the economic well-being of the families and communities.

You will also have the opportunity to learn about Palestine’s past and present, its refugees living both in and outside of Palestine, life under military occupation, Palestinian political prisoners, and get a taste of Palestinian life.

Why should we come?

All our programes provide a unique opportunity to learn about Palestine and the lives of its people living under one of the world’s longest hostile military occupations of the 20th and 21st centuries (48 years and counting!). Increasingly, Palestine is covered in social and mainstream media, yet many people do not get the full picture -- this is the opportunity to learn more and to share what you see and learn when you return home. The combination of learning, witnessing and working alongside families will guarantee you the best introduction to Palestine you can hope for.

One of the most important roles you play during your visit as that of a witness. From experience, we have observed that Israeli settlers and soldiers behave differently in the presence of ‘internationals’ which contributes to a greater sense of safety felt by Palestinians. They feel more assured in the knowledge that they, and their plight under occupation, are not being ignored – that they are not invisible. Importantly, your help with the olive harvest really makes a difference to families during a period of intense work – often more than they can manage on their own, particularly with Israeli restrictions on the numbers who can access their land. Imagine the difference your efforts will make to a family of a few people with limited time and access to their land and orchards – it is a significant contribution!

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