Olive cultivation in Palestine
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Olive trees are a major agricultural crop in the Palestinian territories, where they are mostly grown for olive oil production. It has been estimated that olive production accounted for 57% of cultivated land in the Palestinian territories with 7.8 million fruit-bearing olive trees in 2011.[1] In 2014, an estimated 108,000 tonnes of olives were pressed producing 24,700 tonnes of olive oil – which contributed US $109 million in added value to the crop.[2] Around 100,000 households rely on olives for their primary income.[3]
The olive tree is seen by many Palestinians as being a symbol of nationality and connection to the land,[4] particularly due to their slow growth and longevity.
The destruction of Palestinian olive trees has become a feature of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with regular reports of damage by Israeli settlers.[5] In May 2023 a United Nations report stated that some 5,000 olive trees had been vandalised by settlers in less than 5 months.[6]