Everyone knows that the Crusaders added to Israel's landscapes not only monumental structures such as Acre's "Crusader Knights Halls" but also various strains of olive trees brought from France and Spain. Thus, the choice of Acre's "Crusader Knights Halls" as the venue for the opening ceremony of the 10th Olive Branch Festival, held at the peak of the olive harvest, was particularly appropriate.

The founding charter of the ambitious "Olive Tree Route" project in Israel is part of the initiative of UNESCO and the Council of Europe to establish an "Olive Tree Route" around the entire Mediterranean basin aiming to promote cultural dialogue and peace among the peoples of the region, whilst simultaneously encouraging sustainable development and agricultural tourism.

Hundreds of participants, including Israeli ministers and diplomats, lead by the senior member of the diplomatic corps in Israel, Henri Etoundi Essomba of Cameron, senior officials of the Israel Olive Board, dignitaries representing Galilee minority groups and veteran olive growers from the region, assembled on a rainy evening at Acre's Crusader Knights Halls.

The event and the establishment of the Olive Tree Route (which is rather similar to the "Wine Route," already a gastronomical and tourist event in Israel and many European countries) have two founding fathers. One was the late head of the Israel Olive Board, Amin Salman Hassan, a proud Druze from the Galilee, who passed away a few weeks ago whilst preparing for the Festival. Two years ago, he had joined Ambassador Yitzhak Eldan, Head of Protocol at the Foreign Ministry, whose idea to create an "Olive Tree Route" in Israel originated when hearing about the project at a UNESCO conference. Both men enlisted KKL-JNF as a partner in implementing the project.

Yitzhak Eldan: "I met Amir Hassan in 2002 whilst serving with UNESCO in Paris, when he came to France to forge olive growing contacts in Provence. As we were standing in front of an olive tree at a Paris memorial project for Yitzhak Rabin, he described his wish to commemorate his daughter Maison, killed in a terrorist attack on a bus in Meron. A year later, UNESCO and the Council of Europe established the Olive Tree Route in the Mediterranean basin and on my return to Israel I raised the subject with Amin. We knew that KKL-JNF is a natural partner for such a project, so we met KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler - who didn't hesitate for a moment and responded graciously that 'all KKL-JNF's resources will be placed at your disposal to help implement this project.' This is how we reached the project's opening, which would not have happened without KKL-JNF. It is an auspicious coincidence that this week, the weekly Bible portion tells the story of Noah, in which we learn about the olive branch in the dove's beak that became the symbol of peace."

In honor of the signing of the founding charter of the Olive Tree Route, the European Union and UNESCO sent warm congratulatory letters lauding the initiative and expressing their satisfaction that the Israel Olive Board and KKL-JNF adopted the idea of establishing the Olive Tree Route in Israel.

 
It is therefore no wonder that many dignitaries participated in the ceremony, including Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Shalom Simhon; Minister for Negev & Galilee Development, Yaakov Edri; Minister of Culture, Science & Sport, Raleb Magadele, Deputy Foreign Minister, Magali Wahabe; Ambassador of the European Union to Israel; KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler; and Chairman of the Olive Board. Ilan Eshel. The author Dr. Naim Areida emceed the opening which was dedicated to the late Amin Salman Hassan. As well as honoring Amin Hassan's extraordinary personality, the event projected the optimism that accompanies the realization of a dream of two very motivated people, whose vision excited and inspired.

The theme of this year's Olive Branch Festival is "Open House" which means that tens of thousands of visitors will join the process of harvesting the olives and extracting olive oil and its by-products. The highpoint of the festival is the dedication of Israel's "Olive Tree Route" which will traverse the length of the country, from ancient olive groves in Galilee to new commercial olive plantations planted in recent years in Ramat Hanegev in the Negev desert - with help of land infrastructure and water projects successfully implemented by KKL-JNF.

In his speech at the ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Shalom Simhon talked about the symbolical significance of opening the Olive Branch Festival in Acre, after the violent clashes between Jews and Arabs that tainted the city's atmosphere: "I believe that Acre will continue to be characterized by neighborly relations, because Israeli society must absolutely not give in to inciters. The festival and the Olive Tree Route promote agricultural tourism and exposing visitors to local history and tradition."

KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler said that more than any other festival or agricultural event in Israel, the olive is deserving of such a celebration, especially in light of this year's excellent harvest, following last year's poor harvest. "This is a holiday for people who love the country, who love the land and love olive trees. By becoming a partner to the idea of creating the Olive Tree Route, we are not only participating in the initiative of the Council of Europe and UNESCO, but also creating a new attraction for the Israeli tourist and visitor. Tourists who visit the sites along the Olive Tree Route will see ancient olive groves next to modern tree plantations and will visit olive presses, meet farmers and producers, stay at local rural bed-&-breakfasts in Galilee, and contribute to the dream of the Olive Tree Route as a way to love, coexistence and peace."

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