This week, I am delighted to share another export-ready product line and material in which Palestine specializes: olive wood. Palestine is home to some of the world’s oldest olive trees, dating back nearly 4,000 years. For millennia, the olive tree has been the pillar of Palestinian agrarian culture and has become a symbol of peace, beauty, and prosperity. Throughout that time, it was also renowned as a beautiful material from which to make durable, resistant, and sustainable products. The craft heritage was first introduced in the 4th Century as a way to provide souvenirs to Byzantine pilgrims and it remains a cornerstone of the artisan industry there today.

Today, we start with glassware, which Palestine is famous for. We traveled to Hebron (a village just outside Jerusalem) to meet with some of the area’s few remaining glassblowers. One artist that I met had over 54 years of experience. Their work is an eye-catcher, especially the iconic cobalt blue.