Palestinian leadership launches tree-planting initiative to "immortalize the Palestinian Martyrs"
Headline: “Under the auspices of [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas – Rajoub launches the ‘Alive and Provided For’ initiatives”
“Yesterday [Dec. 23, 2020], under the auspices of [PA] President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the [PLO] Supreme Council for Youth and Sports [and Fatah Central Committee Secretary] Jibril Rajoub launched the initiative to mark Palestinian Martyrs’ Dayunder the headline ‘Alive and Provided For’ (i.e., a paraphrase of Quran 3:169; see note below). This was during a meeting held at the [former FIFA President] Joseph Blatter Academy in the presence of Fatah Movement Central Committee member and President [Abbas’] Advisor on District Affairs Hajj Ismail Jaber, PLO Executive Committee member and [PA] Deputy Prime Minister Ziad Abu Amr, [PA] Minister of Agriculture Riyad Al-Atari, [PA] Minister of Local Authorities Majdi Al-Saleh, [PA] Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Husam Abu Al-Rub, and also representatives of the national partner institutions.
The initiative will begin on Jan. 6 [2021], and it will continue until the end of December 2021. The events will take place in all the homeland’s districts, including occupied Jerusalem.
Rajoub noted that this national initiative is receiving President Mahmoud Abbas’ support, and that its goal is to immortalize the Martyrs of our [Palestinian] cause since 1917…
He said that until now more than 35,000 Martyrs have been counted, and that this number will constitute the first stage of the initiative. He also noted that 2021 will be the year of immortalizing Palestine’s Martyrs.
Rajoub said that this is an initiative to plant olive trees, with each tree bearing the name of one of Palestine’s Martyrs. In addition, a monument will be erected and a marble slab with the Martyrs’ names will be established…
He noted that the olive tree was selected due to its national and religious symbolism…
Hajj Ismail Jaber praised the initiative because it honors the Martyrs, who are the most precious thing we have in our history. He expressed willingness to provide any kind of aid through the district governors so that this initiative will succeed…
Minister of Local Authorities Majdi Al-Saleh said that the [PA] Ministry [of Local Authorities] will provide all that is needed – determining the needed sites and territories, the work fencing [the sites], planting trees, and establishing the sites’ infrastructure.”
Jibril Rajoub also serves as Head of the PLO Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Chairman of the Palestinian Football Association, Chairman of the Palestine Olympic Committee, and Chairman of the Palestinian Scout Association (PSA).
Ziad Abu Amr also serves as head of the PLO Department of International Relations.
Quran 3:169 reads as follows (Sahih International translation): “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.”