Since biblical times, the palm trees of Jericho have been among the most prominent features of Palestine. Now they will have a chance to grow in the precincts of the Rashtrapati Bhavan as well as in the deserts of Rajasthan, thanks to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Official sources in Rashtrapati Bhavan have confirmed to The Hindu that President Abbas has sent 200 date palm saplings for President Pranab Mukherjee.
Cultural bond“The palm saplings for the Rashtrapati Bhavan signify the cultural bond that both India and Palestine have shared since India’s Independence,” said a senior Palestinian diplomat based in Delhi, indicating that talks were on for a possible mid-year visit by President Abbas to Delhi.
Biblical literature has often paid tribute to the famed Jericho palm. It has even found a place in the Palm Sunday rituals.
Almost the entire bunch of 200 saplings will be planted in Rajasthan, which is experimenting with agriculture in semi-desert conditions. Only five of the saplings are to be planted on the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises.
President Abbas had hosted President Mukherjee during the latter’s October 2015 visit to Palestine, when both agreed to increase agriculture collaboration.
The palm saplings from Palestine have arrived in the backdrop of deeper India-Israel collaboration in the field of agriculture. Israel’s Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel was the chief guest at the India Water Week between April 4 and 8. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh also visited Israel in January.
However, this is the first occasion when such a large number of palm saplings have been sent by Palestine to highlight bilateral ties.
