On May 19, 2007 we traveled to Beit Ummar to help plant new olive trees in a field near the checkpoint tower. The field had been bulldozed by the Israeli army.  About 35 Palestinians, Israelis and internationals gathered in a shaded patio area of an adjacent home before beginning to work.

Two groups that work together to resist the illegal occupation of Palestine, one Palestinian and the other Israeli, donated about 35 small olive trees to be planted.  The Palestinian group is named Tareeq, which means “the way” in Arabic.  The Israeli group is called Sheklah, an Arabic word that translates to “who lost someone in the family” in English.

As some people began carrying trees from the patio to the field, other people were measuring and staking locations for holes to be dug.  Digging commenced immediately and soon holes were ready.  Trees were set in the ground and thoroughly watered. 

We had been working for perhaps 10 minutes when Israeli army jeeps began to arrive and soldiers got out to watch and take photographs.  We rather enjoyed the fact that we had gotten a good start before the army knew we were there! 

After observing us for ½ an hour or so, the soldiers apparently decided we posed no security threat because they hopped in their jeeps and left.

We worked on for a total of about an hour until all the trees were planted and watered.

It was good to be doing something as constructive as planting and nurturing trees.  We fear, however, that the trees may not grow to maturity.  Two weeks ago, 100 trees were planted in another part of Beit Ummar, on the Palestinian side of the Apartheid Wall, and overnight those trees were torn out.  In the Hebron area 400 trees were planted recently and these too were torn from the ground.

It is really hard to understand people who engage in such destructiveness.  We can hope and pray for a better outcome with the trees we planted, but the chances are not good.