The Issue
Palestinian farmers in Area C of the West Bank face severe challenges to maintaining their olive groves and protecting their land. Under full Israeli control according to the Oslo Accords, many farmers require permits from Israeli authorities to access their own land. Israeli settlers frequently intimidate farmers and vandalize trees, creating a climate of fear that discourages farmers from returning to their land. These ongoing restrictions, harassment, and acts of violence result in increasing poverty, displacement, land theft, and settlement expansion.
Many olive groves are located in areas that are walled off or difficult to access, despite legally belonging to West Bank Palestinian farmers. The situation threatens not only the agricultural livelihoods of these farming communities but their fundamental rights to their ancestral lands and their ability to maintain their cultural heritage tied to olive cultivation, which has been central to Palestinian identity for centuries.
The Project
The project “Keep Hope Alive by Planting Olive Trees: The Joint Advocacy Initiative” have taken a two-pronged approach to support Palestinian farmers in Hebron and Bethlehem.
First, the project has strengthened farmers’ capacity to protect their lands through practical agricultural support and legal rights education. The project provided training on land protection strategies and facilitates knowledge exchange forums where farmers are able to share agricultural best practices and innovative techniques to improve cultivation methods.
Second, the project has createf virtual platforms for Palestinian farmers to advocate directly to Danish audiences. Farmers were selected as spokespersons to engage with Danish schools and churches, sharing their first-hand experiences and raising awareness about the challenges they face. These virtual engagements help build international solidarity and support for the protection of Palestinian farmers’ rights in Area C.
Throughout the project, selected farmers have receive training to effectively communicate their experiences and advocacy messages, helping amplify their voices on an international stage while simultaneously strengthening their ability to protect and cultivate their lands.
The Change
Through this project, at least 100 Palestinian farmers representing 40 families gained stronger capacity to protect their land rights and improve their agricultural practices. The training and resources provided aimed to help farmers maintain a visible presence on their land, decreasing the risk of confiscation while improving their agricultural output through sustainable farming methods.
Futher by using advocacy, the project has sought to increase awareness, leading to concrete solidarity actions, such as sponsoring olive trees, fundraising, and sharing farmers’ stories more widely. Through this acvocacy approach at least 100 Danish youth and 20 opinion makers in Denmark will develop a deeper understanding of the occupation’s impact on Palestinian farmers.
This change is made possible because the virtual engagement platforms that the project introduced enables direct connection between Palestinian farmers and Danish audiences, fostering meaningful dialogue that transforms abstract international issues into personal connections. These relationships strengthen both the farmers’ resolve to remain on their land and the international community’s commitment to supporting their rights.
By combining practical agricultural support with international advocacy, the project sought to create lasting change through both immediate land protection and long-term awareness building that can influence policy and public support.
Results
The project has successfully completed the planting of all 3,000 olive tree seedlings as planned, achieving full implementation of DCA’s ‘Build Resilient Communities’ component of the project. Additionally, the project has conducted 8 capacity building workshops and training sessions, contributing to both community empowerment and international engagement.
As part of DCA’s ‘Fight Extreme Inequality’ aspect of the project, the project anticipate to have reached at least 20 key church opinion-makers through targeted advocacy activities, including virtual engagement. Furthermore, 100 youth are anticipated being reached with tailored virtual engagements from the Palestinian farmers.
About the Project
Full title: Keep Hope Alive by Planting Olive Trees: The Joint Advocacy Initiative
Timeline: 1 January 2024 – 30 June 2025
Amount: 179,357.93 DKK
Number of people reached: 280 individuals (100 Palestinian farmers directly supported, representing 40 families, plus 100 Danish youth and 20 opinion makers)
Donor: DCA
