The Olive tree In palestine

From the trees, to the oil and fruit, the olive is ubiquitous in Palestine. A typical Palestinian day may begin as it has for centuries with the traditional morning meal of zeit ou zaatar (olive oil and crushed thyme), followed by a walk to school or work past the olive groves that characterise the West Bank terrain.Olive oil is a staple in Palestinian cuisine, where it is used in most traditional dishes, or simply poured over salads and cold foods.

The oil is also used in traditional medicinal remedies and for generations, Palestinian mothers have rubbed warm olive oil on their children’s chests to ease a wide range of illnesses. To this day in certain villages, newborn babies are introduced to their Palestinian roots when they are massaged with pure, warm olive oil and some village elders still drink a shot of coldpressed olive oil in the morning, owing to its medicinal powers in promoting good health and longevity.

The olive also features prominently in works of literature, poetry and art. References can be found in the work of the celebrated Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and the tree has come to be regarded as a national symbol. When travelling in Palestine, this comes as no surprise, as the olive tree is a consistent feature of the landscape and the fruit and oil ever present on the welcoming dining tables in villages and cities alike.