HIBAPRESS
The olive harvest season continues in the villages of Jerusalem Governorate with the support of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency within the annual "Awnah" campaign, in its sixth consecutive year.
In this context, teams from the Agency participated in the operation at the village of Al-Jadira, northwest of Jerusalem, to support and empower the Jerusalemite farmers with the participation of a number of concerned Palestinian institutions. The "Awnah" campaign aims to help the Jerusalemite farmer reach his land, in light of the increasing frequency of harassment to which Palestinians are exposed by the owners of the lands adjacent to the settlements. This year, it targets more than 25 villages and about 2,520 farmers in the suburbs of Jerusalem; this is within the economic and social season projects 2025-2026, which the Agency inaugurated at the beginning of this October, within its annual plan, which it implements according to the high royal vision of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, which stipulates the implementation of tangible projects that have a direct impact on the beneficiaries. Abdullah Siam, Deputy Governor of Jerusalem, said that launching the campaign for the sixth year embodies the depth of the partnership with the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, praising the continuous Moroccan support for the Jerusalemite farmers. Siam added: “We salute His Majesty King Mohammed VI and the brotherly Moroccan people for this permanent support. The olive harvest season for us is a national season par excellence, expressing adherence to the land and the blessed tree that symbolizes the identity of Palestine.” Ahmed Barjas, Mayor of Al-Jadira, praised the efforts of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, in cooperation with the Jerusalem Governorate, to support the Jerusalemite farmer and establish him on his land, especially during the olive harvest season. Samer Abd Rabbo, Mayor of Al-Jeeb, said that the "Awnah" campaign enhances the steadfastness of farmers in Jerusalem, and has a great impact in helping them to stay on their land. For his part, farmer Saadat Gharib, from the village of Beit Izza, said: “We own lands behind the wall, and we hope for the continuation of these events to support the farmers who own lands behind the wall, in order to preserve their lands and steadfastness.” While Ahmed Abu Rahma, from the Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority, affirmed that participating in the campaign is a national duty to support the steadfastness of farmers in the face of settlement and the separation wall, praising the role of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency and the Jerusalem Governorate in organizing the event. Engineer Ashraf Taha, from the Agricultural Relief Association, explained that the campaign, which started at the beginning of this month, includes all areas of the West Bank, with the participation of volunteers to assist in the olive harvest in the areas near the wall and settlements. For her part, Faihaa Najm, Director of the Directorate of Agriculture in the Jerusalem Governorate, explained that the campaign, funded by the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, has enabled, in the past years, the provision of important agricultural equipment and supplies to farmers in Jerusalem and its surroundings. Najm pointed out that the targeted lands, this year, are located in areas threatened by settlement near the wall, and work has been done to rehabilitate them and dig wells to serve the farmers. As for Dr. Tahani Al-Louzi, the coordinator of the "Awnah" campaign in the Jerusalem Governorate, she said that the campaign includes, this year, work in 16 agricultural gates inside the wall and a number of other agricultural areas, and the total area of land planted with olives in the Jerusalem Governorate is about 19 thousand dunums; including thousands of Roman trees, which are over thousands of years old. Al-Louzi stated that the number of farmers in the governorate is about 2,500 plant farmers, and 1,500 livestock farmers.
