By Nojoud Qassem
RAMALLAH, Oct 7 (KUNA) -- In act of defiance against Israeli aggressors, Palestinian farmers and investors utilized vast portions of the land in Jericho governorate to plant more and more palm trees.
Despite Jericho known for its palm trees, Palestinians are increasing their efforts to plant more trees to solidify their presence in the land and to display that their long struggle against the Israelis.
Speaking to KUNA, Jamal Al-Deek, Secretary General of the Palestinian farmers' federation, said that every piece of land, which was until recently uncultivated, was subjected to the planting of palm trees to refute Israeli claims.
He indicated that Israel was taking procedures to reduce the production of dates through preventing Palestinians from planting palm trees.
Policies also encouraged Jewish settlers to confiscate land and make this industry their own via not selling goods produced by palm trees to Palestinians, said Al-Deek.
On his part, agricultural expert Ismail Daeeq said that Palestinians took Israelis to court retaining a considerable portion of lands confiscated unlawfully by Jewish settlers.
The Israelis know that Palestinian palm trees production has an international appeal and would have a significant political impact if said products reached merchants abroad, said Daeeq who indicated while Israeli palm trees products reached 50 percent capacity, Palestinian production jumped 15 percent and will near Israel's number.
Palestinian date production for example reached 10,000 tons annually with an income of USD 70 million, said Daeeq who affirmed that Israelis were worried about Palestinian products reaching some 22 countries worldwide.
He said that dates market employs some 4,000 workers with the number possibly reaching 7,000 within five years.
Such facts are alarming for Israel, which will do it utmost to prevent Palestinians from breathing if possible, said Daeeq. (end) nq.gta