On this Earth Day, we would like to highlight nature’s symbols of Palestine

1. The Palestinian Poppy is the native to the homeland and is the most abundant flower of the region.

2. Before 1948, Jaffa, the economic hub of Palestine, was one of the largest orange exporters in the world. The Jaffa orange now represents loss.

3. “Pomegranates are integral to Palestinian eating, and are regarded across the Middle East as a symbol of abundance and prosperity.” - Joudie Kalla

4. The olive tree is essential to Palestine’s economy, lineage, and heritage. Olive trees represent “unwavering endurance when placed in the context of military occupation.” - Pedro Rios, http://afsc.org 

5. For years, Palestinians have used prickly pears to form fences to perimeter their land. Cactus fruits are then seen as what is left of destroyed villages.

Art Credit:
- Poppy Art by @watanpalestine
- Yaffa 1979 by Sliman Mansour
- Painting from Art Exhibit for Middle East Peace: Paintings and Odes by Anne Barber-Shams
- Woman Picking Olives by Sliman Mansour