Olive Tree Wars; the Olive Tree as Potent Symbol; the Olive Harvest...

Sophie Atkinson

Stratis Axiotis

Whilst not underestimating the intensity and ferocity of family feuds about land, borders and olive trees on islands like Paxos and Corfu, the olive wars between Israelis and Palestinians are in an altogether different league. The olive as a tragic symbol of division.

BBC Documentary on iPlayer, with Jeremy Bowen

"The olive harvest in the West Bank is all about tradition. The first rains of the winter signal the start of gathering the olives on which so many Palestinian farmers depend. The BBC's Middle East Editor, Jeremy Bowen, has been travelling during the harvest through the West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, and wanted by the Palestinians for a state. He spoke to Palestinian farmers, Jewish settlers, oil exporters, and Israeli soldiers, and found that the harvest is about a lot more than olives, or oil, or the soap they make from it".

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