Crossing barriers in the Holy Land
Locally made documentary about Run Across Palestine premiers Sept. 10 at State Theatre
By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
Traverse City filmmaker Aaron Dennis (his dad, Jerry, writes wonderful books about the Great Lakes) and I are thrilled that the State Theatre in Traverse City will host the world premier of our documentary, The People and the Olive, on Monday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m.
The People and the Olive follows this past February’s Run Across Palestine, an initiative by the northern Michigan nonprofit, “On the Ground”, to raise awareness about the struggles facing Palestinian fair-trade olive farmers living under occupation. The run featured six ultra-marathoners (three from Benzie County and two from Traverse City) who attempted to leg 129 miles in five days across the West Bank of Palestine, while planting olive trees in villages along the way.
Why did we make this documentary? Because the topic of Israel and Palestine is too often mired in a black-and-white, “us and them” discourse. We Americans, and our elected leaders on both sides of the political aisle routinely fall into this chasm as well, without examining who Palestinians truly are. In post-9/11 America, many of us view Palestinians as enigmas at best, and threats at worst.
Largely forgotten amidst a political debate that too often focuses on rocks and bulldozers, fear and hatred, intifadas and historical trauma, the Israeli occupation has prevented many West Bank farmers from harvesting the olive trees their grandfathers planted, and caring for the land they know and love like their own children. Nearly 60 percent of the arable land in the West Bank is used for growing olive trees, employing over 100,000 Palestinians, making it by far the most lucrative agricultural industry for an aspiring nation that suffers from a crushing unemployment rate of 30 percent.
Thus, The People and the Olive explores these questions: What do olive trees mean to Palestinian farmers? Olives are their livelihood, their source of sustenance and the way they root themselves, historically and spiritually, to the land. But Palestinians are denied access to nearly 30 percent of their beloved olive trees in the West Bank. How do they persevere? And what should the international community understand about Palestinian olive farmers, who love their land and harvest it every season to feed their families — just as farmers across the world do?
During the Run Across Palestine, the ultra-marathoners faced numerous barriers along the way — both physical and political barriers that represented a microcosm of what Palestinians face every day. They forged deep bonds with their hosts — Palestinians and Israelis alike — while witnessing the harsh political reality and uplifting beauty of life in the West Bank.
Joining the Run Across Palestine as a “cultural ambassador” was Jewish-American musician Joshua Davis (known locally as lead singer of the band “Steppin’ In It”). Davis, who overcame significant internal barriers to take part in the journey, jammed with Palestinian musicians in the Hebron Hills, Ramallah and Jenin, and broke bread with Israeli peace activists in Jerusalem. Davis will perform at the State Theatre premier and is producing an album based on his experiences in the Holy Land. For more on Joshua Davis’ personal journey, read my story published in the spiritual Jewish magazine, Tikkun.
The Run Across Palestine was supported by the Palestine Fair Trade Association, a collective of over 1,700 small-scale farmers who have embraced fair trade practices to sustain their future and to sell their products worldwide. On the Ground chose to support Palestinian olive farmers because of the political and economic hurdles they face every day. The northern Michigan nonprofit believes that when people in the developed world buy fair-trade products such as coffee or olive oil, we link ourselves to those farmers and commit to improving their economic livelihood — whether or not we personally interact with them.
“They planted so we ate. Now we plant so they eat,” Palestine Fair Trade Association founder Nasser Abufarha quoted a local proverb. “Past generations planted these trees that we’re eating from and are supporting our lives, and we plant trees for our future generations to support their lives.”
The premier begins at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 (doors open at 6). Tickets cost $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children and students, and are available at Higher Grounds, Oryana and the State Theatre box office or online at StateTheatreTC.org. Ticket proceeds go toward scholarships for the October Bioneers conference. For more information about the film, please visit ThePeopleandTheOlive.com.
Dennis and Wheeler are entering the documentary into film festivals worldwide. To support their effort, please visit The People and the Olive’s Kickstarter campaign.
