Olive tree

Every autumn, farmers across the Middle East—Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese—gather to celebrate the olive harvest, a tradition stretching back centuries. But for Palestinian farmers, these days of abundance turn into a time of anxiety and vigilance. My friend shared the story of his family’s six dunums of olive trees and the hurdles they face during harvest. Each day, they tread carefully between the trees, eyes on the road, alert to any movement. When settlers appear, they must hide, ducking behind rocks or the thick trunks of the olive trees, fearing discovery. An encounter could mean violence, destruction, or even death, as countless groves have been torched and lives threatened. Abu Zeid and his family endured this year’s harvest, but the question remains—what fate will the next season hold?