West Bank olive grove planted, paying tribute to Jimmy Carter

Palestinian activists and residents planted a grove of 250 olive trees in the northern West Bank town of Tulkarem on January 13th in honour of the late United States President Jimmy Carter.
According to The New Arab and agencies, Carter was described by the Palestinian people as a key supporter of Palestine and the Palestinian cause.
Executive manager of the Palestinian Farmers Union, Abbas Melhem stated that the former president is “rooted” among Palestinians and across the world. Melhem also described Carter as one of very few world leaders that “stood firmly supporting the struggle of the Palestinians for independence and for freedom.”
Palestinian children helped the adults plant trees into freshly dug holes. Melhem said the 12.5-acre grove entitled “Freedom Farm,” will be fenced in to protect the newly planted trees.
The Palestinian Farmers Union has established this project in collaboration with U.S.-based nonprofit Freedom for Palestine, who plant trees to aid Palestinian farmers.
Carter who died in December at 100, negotiated the Camp David peace accords between Israel and Egypt in 1978.
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In more recent years, Carter hurled criticism at Israel and their military rule over the Palestinians, comparing the conditions in the occupied West Bank to apartheid.
“I think planting olive trees that live at least 100 years old like him is a very suitable way to honor his life and his legacy,” stated a representative of the Carter Center in Israel and Palestine.
The New Arab and Agencies