Save the trees of Jerusalem

• Published date: 07 October 2021
• Author: PEGGY CIDOR
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Too many trees are cut down, too many trees are uprooted without taking into account their chance to survive a transfer, too many questions remain unanswered regarding who is cutting trees and what profits are being made when felled trees end up in factories where they are sliced, processed and sold.

"Somebody makes money from these sacrificed trees. A tracking of this trail should be done in order to find out who is behind this. We alone cannot do that; we are already mobilized to run from place to place to stop illegal tree harvesting, to submit appeals to the Court in cases where we fail to stop the process, and to fight against city administrations that fail to protect our natural legacy," said an activist who asked not to be identified.

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"IT WAS Simhat Torah," recalls Ilana Sirkiss, "and out of nowhere came three men in a van, with axes, who began to cut down trees. Three trees were already sacrificed before a neighborhood resident saw them from her balcony, alerted the police and succeeded to stop these men from continuing with their destructive mission."

Photos of the cutters, the cut-down trees and the van were immediately uploaded on the Facebook account of the activists, stirring a lot of emotion. But Sirkiss says these things happen almost every day – not always spotted or stopped in time.

"On one of the hottest days this summer, on Tisha Be'Av, there was another such case. I called all the officials at Safra Square, including city council members, haredim and religious – but it was Tisha Be'Av – no one answered and we couldn't stop the tree destruction."

Such vigilance has become the daily duty of residents who care about trees in this city and are dedicated to prevent the wanton destruction. Some say it is a lost battle but they won't stop fighting.

"We all know the state of our planet and the climate crisis befalling us. Trees are the best way to preserve the planet and contribute to improving of the climate. How does that work with cutting them down?" asks Sirkiss.

TO WHAT degree are the trees of Jerusalem really endangered? Who is in charge of protecting them and what does the law say on that matter?

National forest officials are responsible at the national level but each city has its own forest officials – municipal employees. Hence, points out Sirkiss, a local forest official is unable to counter the...