Jan 23, 2025
Foragers (2022, Jumana Manna 🇵🇸)
Palestine is the home for several wild, edible plants. Za’atar and akkoub are popular herbs in Palestinian culture and cuisine. In 1977, however, Ariel Sharon declared za’atar a ‘protected plant’, rendering its foraging, possession or trade a criminal offense. Akkoub suffered a similar fate when it was labelled protected in 2005. Those who pick za’atar and akkoub subsequently became lawbreakers and in many cases were indicted and convicted. Despite this, several Palestinians, especially the elderly, are willing to defy these laws.