Thousands of Ancient Olive Trees in Galilee Unattended Due to Ownership Disputes
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Thousands of ancient olive trees in Israel's Galilee region are neglected because landowners are barred from tending them. The trees were largely confiscated by the state under the "present absentee" law. A vineyard in Tzipori highlights the problematic situation, where the trees' beauty is contrasted with their unmanaged state.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Thousands of ancient olive trees in the Galilee are neglected due to ownership issues.
- Landowners are reportedly not allowed to tend to the centuries-old olive trees.
- Most trees were confiscated by the state under the "present absentee" law.
- The situation is exemplified by a vineyard in Tzipori.
- The trees are described as beautiful despite their unmanaged condition.
Thousands of ancient olive trees, some hundreds of years old, are scattered throughout the Galilee region, but their land owners are reportedly not permitted to tend to them. The majority of these trees were confiscated by the state under the "present absentee" law after their Arab owners were declared "present absentees." One vineyard in Tzipori exemplifies the absurdity of the situation. The article describes the captivating nature of these old trees, noting their gnarled trunks that appear like wrinkles of old age, bearing witness to time and experience. Their twisted, complex forms, with hollows, defects, and cracks, are described as remarkably beautiful.