Olive trees from Jaén on the hills of southern Lebanon

Twenty olive trees from Jaén will grow on the hills of southern Lebanon after the 23rd Spanish contingent offered them to four local agricultural cooperatives on 24 June.

The olive tree is considered a symbol of peace in many cultures. Keeping the peace is the task of the Spanish blue helmets deployed in the United Nations mission in Lebanon. And peace is what they wish for the whole region.

The current rotating force is made up mostly of members of the 12th Armoured Brigade “Guadarrama”. The Brigade’s chief, General José Conde, was at the head of the Spanish representatives in the ceremony to deliver the olive trees.

General Conde during the delivery of the olive trees (Photo: 23rd BRILIB)

By offering those olive trees, the blue helmets are presenting the different communities in southern Lebanon with the symbol of peace, mutual respect and forgiveness. This fine tree, the symbol par excellence of peace, is rooted deep in the soul of the Mediterranean peoples and represents their unity. The UN flag itself, which can be seen on the soldiers’ uniforms and flutters above the Miguel de Cervantes base, shows two olive branches encircling the globe as a symbol of world peace.