TREEDOM FOR PALESTINE

Dear Friends and Peace-workers,

I'm Cyrus Copeland, Executive Director of Treedom for Palestine, and I’m reaching out to share a story unfolding in the heart of the West Bank. We urgently seek your support to transform the tragic death of a farmer at the hands of Israeli settlers into a lasting foundation for the safety and prosperity for Palestine’s farmers.

Bilal's Legacy: Planting Peace in the Face of Violence

Bilal Saleh was a 38-year-old Palestinian farmer who was killed on Oct 28 while harvesting olives on his unprotected farm near Nablus. He was beaten and shot by Israeli settlers with machine guns, and died on the land that he had harvested for twenty-five years. A simple man who sold thyme and sage at the market, Bilal had a wife and four kids, and was a proud member of the Palestinian Farmers Union.

His death is a testament to the vulnerability of farmers facing settler violence. Last year Israeli settlers attacked over 2000 Palestinian farms and olive trees. We at Treedom For Palestine are committed to ensuring that no farmer faces such a fate again.

Freedom Farming: A Beacon of Prosperity in the West Bank

Treedom for Palestine plants safe and sustainable olive tree farms across the West Bank––each farm includes 250 olive saplings, an irrigation system, and steel fencing surrounding the farm to protect the farmer and trees. While Bilal didn't have the protection of a Freedom Farm like the ones we plant, we aim to plant two farms in his memory. Our partner on the ground is the Palestinian Farmers Union of which Bilal was a devoted member––a collective of 16,000 small-scale farmers dedicated to prosperity and non-violent change.

By planting a Freedom Farm, you are joining a movement that believes in the transformative power of trees to bring peace and prosperity to a troubled region. It is a long term solution whose benefits carry forward for multiple generations. 

Why Your Support Matters

Freedom Farms are designed to thrive under the pressures of the occupation and transform the lives of farmers and communities, creating the building blocks of prosperity in the West Bank.

• Prosperity: Each Freedom Farm yields $36,000 worth of olive oil, fostering economic independence and unifying communities for harvest.

• Gender Equality: Forty percent of our farms are planted for Palestinian women, strengthening their roles in families and communities.

• Climate Change: A single Freedom Farm absorbs nine million pounds of carbon over its lifespan, yet uses significantly less water than similar fruit tree farms.

• Sustainability: Because olive trees boast a lifespan of 500 years, each farm generates $18 million of olive oil over its existence, ensuring prosperity for generations to come.

Ready to Plant Peace and Prosperity?

Please join us on this journey. The Freedom Farms you plant will honor Bilal’s memory by bringing change to a polarized landscape, one tree at a time.

Olive trees aren't just symbols of peace, they are tools for lasting change. Prosperity, equality and environmental harmony aren’t just ideals. They are tangible realities grown from the soil of your support.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Cyrus Copeland

TreedomForPalestine.org