SPSC and Cinemattic ‘Viva Palestina’ Event Supports Palestinian Farming Community

In April, CINEMATTIC 'Viva Palestina' held two film events, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, in collaboration with the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC). The events raised funds for grassroots organisations: Amplify Gaza, and Plant a Tree in Palestine which is a partner project with SPSC.

Plant a Tree in Palestine launched in 2011 and is a project of Stop the JNF (Jewish National Fund). The campaign is a powerful tool of Palestinian resistance and serves three key functions:

Building Solidarity: Planting trees within affected communities conveys a strong sense of international solidarity, of people not being alone and forgotten, building Palestinian sumud.

Reclaiming the Land: Farmers being supported to plant trees counters the Israeli drive to detach people from their land.

IBenefiting the Environment: The trees planted are natural to the region, unlike many JNF trees, alien to the land. The trees planted as part of the project benefit the environment and have deep cultural and historic significance.

The Palestinian landscape all over the West Bank is very quickly disappearing. Vast settlements are spreading like literal wildfire over the hilltops. The regimental white boxes and red roofs of these colonies sit in stark contrast looming over the beautiful lush terraces of indigenous olive trees and grape vines planted by Palestinian farming communities. Every day more villages vanish under the rubble of settler and military bulldozers. Every day farmers and their crops are attacked by settlers, and the occupation forces limit access to the land eventually claiming it completely. It was reported in June2025 that twenty two new West Bank settlements have been approved by the Israeli government, this is illegal under international law.

In May, an SPSC delegation visited the occupied West Bank and met with our Plant a Tree in Palestine partners. We had the privilege of meeting and listening to local farmers. As we walked through the landscape of their beautiful valley, they shared their experiences of life under ongoing settler encroachment. The water supply to the village and land is restricted, checkpoints are set up randomly with no notice limiting access to and from their homes and community. We walked through the hills of newly planted grape vines and olive trees, vulnerable due to the lack of proper fencing and protection. With the £800 raised through the Cinemattic event, the farmers were able to quickly buy and install new gates and fencing, offering the crops and the farming community some protection and, however brief, a sense of peace. This fencing not only protects against the constant threat of settler invasion, from dogs or the settlers themselves, but is also a symbol of resistance, perseverance and determination of this farming community.

In the face of the occupation, settler colonial aggression and apartheid, Palestinian day to day existence is resistance. Our actions at home can make a difference when we are organised and focused. Time is running out for Palestine. We must act now to stop the state of Israel's escalating illegal colonial settler advancement and genocidal project.

What can I do?

Join SPSC and our campaign to STOP THE JNF (Jewish National Fund).

Sign the petition to revoke charity status to KKL JNF SCOTLAND is to be presented to OSCR Scotlands charity body.

Donate to Plant a Tree in Palestine