Nablus has been the historic commercial hub of the West Bank, but in the years following the second intifada, its economy has floundered under the weight of tough Israeli controls and many businesses have been destroyed.
Although some economic growth was reported in the West Bank in 2009, the Israeli occupation continues to control the movement of people and goods, making real sustainable growth almost impossible.
Nablus Limited is the first film in the series The Business of Occupation and looks at a traditional soap factory and a modern international olive oil business and how both are trying to survive, let alone thrive.
In the context of illegal land seizures and on-going conflict with the Israeli military presence, they are trying to break into important international markets.
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Palestinian olive oil is the best in the world..
<span>Palestinian olive oil is the best in the world.</span>
ReplyDeleteI understand Australia is producing olive oil. Have you tried it?
Yes I did, it's excellent but for the same price one can get twice as much from another excellent brand..
ReplyDeleteA store where one can buy Palestinian olive oil..Za'atar as well..
ReplyDelete<span><span>http://palestineonlinestore.co</span><span></span>m/oliveoil</span>
Thank You!
ReplyDeleteI like to try different olive oils, so I will have to search around and see if I can find some made in Australia.
TG,
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. It brought me back to (bitter) sweet memories. Up until my teenage years my family used Nabulsi soap. Things happened, time and space, and we no longer do so. I didn't appreciate the value of this soap then, but I did miss it when I realized that I could not take it for granted.
<span>I didn't appreciate the value of this soap then, but I did miss it when I realized that I could not take it for granted.</span>
ReplyDeleteTell me about it! We used to look at that greenish think and shake our heads but little did we know that soap (in Lebanon they make them in Tripoli) was thge purest and noblest thing. Later on I'd purchase it (the same) in Paris as 'Marseille soap' (savon de Marseille). The reason is that boats importing the product from Tripoli would accost in Marseille where it was then distributed..
We're lucky that here in Sydney it's available in many Tripolitan owned shops..Cheap!
Don't forget Savon d'Alep!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/twiga_swala/3041400655/in/photostream/
I had not heard of Aleppo's but I'm not surprised. The traditional method of preparation from olive oil (adding laurel as is said in the photo) is spread across the region which was all one under Ottoman rule..
ReplyDeleteBTW, the photo shows the same display I used to see in popular souqs when I was young. They leave to weather and age and become better.
In the photo the yellow soap on the left is more expensive than the other. The reason being is that it's pure 'laurel soap'. I'm assuming that it's still made the same only more laurel is added to the mix..Wonderful product it must be..
ReplyDeleteWe visited a soap factory in Aleppo. It is in a 12 or 13th century caravanseri building. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteI visited Aleppo once as a kid..I'll never forget the taste of food there..
ReplyDelete