The Road to Olive Farming: Challenge to developing the economy of olive oil in the West Bank

For thousands of years, the olive tree has been an integral part of the Palestinian landscape: a symbol of Palestinian identity, culture and tradition. The majority of Palestinian farmers are at least partially dependent on olive cultivation. The current profitability of olive farming is evident in the increase in recent years of farmers who are planting new trees and tending to their orchards. In a good year, the olive oil sector contributes over $100 million income annually to some of the poorest communities. Olive cultivation also has strong social and political aspects, as the planting of olive orchards is often an attempt to prevent the confiscation of land by Israel or settlers and to protect Palestinian livelihoods. While the olive oil sector significantly contributes to economic security and generates income and employment, numerous obstacles prevent the sector from realising its full potential. A lack of adequate resources and ineffective sectoral management coupled with environmental factors, poor production and quality practices have caused stagnation in the development of the sector. Donors and NGOs need to work with the relevant Palestinian authorities and all stakeholders to develop an effective strategy and improve coordination and regulation of the sector. With the right investments, and the adoption of improved agricultural practices, Oxfam estimates that the productivity and therefore the incomes of olive farmers could double. Oxfam has a long history of assisting olive farmers in Palestine. With funding from the European Union, we are currently helping farmers improve farming practices and open local, regional and international markets to their products. This report shares the learning, success and challenges Oxfam and its partners have faced over a number of years. We believe that if the Palestinian Authority, Israel, the international community, donors and NGOs address the issues outlined in this report the future for Palestinian olive farmers looks bright

Overtaken By Need: The world's failure to meet Syria's humanitarian crisis

The human cost of Syria's conflict has risen beyond all expectations. There are already more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries. Inside Syria itself, 6.8 million people struggle in urgent need of assistance.This briefing describes how, as the numbers grow, the money to help some of those refugees and displaced people is running out. UN appeals have received only half of the funding they sought - to help far fewer people than they now need to assist. And Oxfam's humanitarian programme is struggling with insufficient funds to help as much as it needs to, despite the generosity of its supporters and the public.The world has failed to find common purpose to end Syria's brutal conflict. Shamefully, it has also failed to provide enough aid to help the conflict's most vulnerable victims. Without a massive increase in aid now, and secured funding for long-term aid, millions of Syrians will miss out on the food, water, shelter and medical care that they desperately need.Donor governments - in the region and the OECD - must urgently give more aid now, and be ready to give more in the longer term as, tragically, the needs increase

Pola hidup muslim (Minhajul Muslim) : thaharah, ibadah dan akhlak

xx, 431 p.; 20.5 cm

Pola hidup muslim (Minhajul Muslim) : mu'amalah

xviii, 400 p.; 20.5 cm

On the Brink: Israeli settlements and their impact on Palestinians in the Jordan Valley

The Jordan Valley, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, has the potential to be the breadbasket of any future Palestinian state. However, the persistent expansion of Israeli settlements and other restrictions on Palestinian development have made life extremely difficult for Palestinian communities. New plans to increase the land, water, and infrastructure available to Israeli settlements will further aggravate this already serious situation. Unless the international community takes action to reverse Israeli government policies and practices, the prospects for the future establishment of a viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security, look dangerously remote