20th, June 2012
See more photos of the visit
The Olive Tree Campaign in the Netherlands has organized a speaking tour in around the country in May and June 2012. The tour aimed to raise awareness on Palestine, encourage involvement of Dutch audience in the work of the olive tree campaign and increase Dutch participation in the OTC's activities and events both in the Netherlands and in Palestine. During the tour, the coordinator of the OTC gave 22 lectures and presentations in schools, universities, churches and social centers throughout the country.
The lectures focused on highlighting the religious, economic, cultural, historic and religious significance of olive trees in Palestine, also explain the different Israeli policies that lead to the destruction of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians olive trees in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, like the construction of the Israeli wall, settlers violence and price tag policy, paving of Israeli by-pass roads, construction of Israeli Jewish only settlements, Israeli military operations and other daily Israeli practices.
During the lectures the OTC coordinator explained the work done by the campaign on the ground in support of Palestinian farmers, also explain the symbolic and practical importance of individual involvement from around the world in support of Palestinian farmers and land owners in their daily struggle to keep their land from destruction and continuous Israel attempts to rob Palestinian families from their lands and properties.
In general, the tour was successful in reaching out to hundreds of people who were interested in sponsoring olive trees, by the end of the tour the campaign received sponsorships of more than 1100 olive trees which is the same number of trees sponsored by Dutch sponsors in 2011, also many people have promised to joining the olive picking and olive planting programs and to become volunteers and supporters of the campaign in the Netherlands.
See one of the lectures done by the Palestinian and Dutch coordinators of the OTC