Medical Aid for Palestine was created to improve the health and health care conditions of Palestinians while respecting their autonomy and self-determination. MAP also works to develop cooperation and understanding between Canadians and Palestinians through the exchange of information and resources.

A bit of history

Medical Aid for Palestine was founded in order to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians during the invasion of Lebanon by the Israeli army during the summer of 1982.

MAP pursues two main goals:

• Co-ordinate the efforts of diverse groups who wish to provide concrete aid to Palestinians living in the Middle East;

• Inform the public on the political causes and the social consequences of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

MAP attempts to provide help where needs are the most pressing. At the start of the Intifada in December of 1987, MAP’s assistance was provided almost exclusively to organizations in the West Bank and Gaza working in the health field. Since 1995, MAP’s projects target education, health, training, the development of women and youth, the environment and human rights. Since the second Intifada (Sept. 2002), MAP has focused its efforts towards assisting children and youth in Palestine and southern Lebanon.

We currently have five products that we are promoting in Montreal and its surrounding areas.

Dates Medjoul, Zaatar, Nablus Soap, Zeitouna Olive Oil and Keffiyehs.

Zeitouna Olive Oil

Symbol of solidarity

The importation and sale of ZEITOUNA is part of a social entrepreneurship project launched in 2003 by Medical Aid for Palestine with financial support from CDEC Rosemont- Petite-Patrie.

This initiative has two main objectives:

• Providing economic dignity and additional income to Palestinian farmers who can no longer sell their oil locally because of border closures (28 per cent of the sale price of each bottle of Zeitouna goes to the Palestinian producers)

• Financing other health and education projects that help Palestinians and Palestinian refugees (10 per cent of the sale price goes to Medical Aid for Palestine programs).

A Palestinian olive oil

Olives have been cultivated on the hills of Palestine for over 3,000 years and they represent today the principal agricultural product of that region.

In addition to being an historical symbol, the olive tree is a precious resource for the Palestinian people who have seen their economic opportunities disappear with the closure of their borders.

Palestine is the world’s 11th largest producer of olive oil, and the production of this staple food represents the main source of revenue for more than 70,000 Palestinian families (25 per cent of the total population of the West Bank)

Women, in general, represent the largest proportion among agricultural workers. This is even more true in the olive sector.

Organic

Zeitouna Olive Oil is produced using traditional methods and without the use of environmentally harmful chemical products.

The oil is certified organic by the Centre of Organic Agriculture in Egypt (COAE) which in turn has been accepted as a certifying body by the Conseil des appellations agroalimentaires du Québec

Fair traded

Zeitouna olive oil is imported through the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC)
which has been a member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) since 2006. 

The role of PARC is to :

• Purchase olive oil from 19 different Palestinian farm cooperatives at a just and equitable prices

• Assure compliance with fair trade norms

• Provide Palestinian producers with technical and logistical support for the production and export of their oil

Zeitouna extra virgin olive oil is cold pressed thus preserving its natural flavours and nutritional value. It is truly a healthy and a high quality olive oil.

Refusing to purchase Israeli products and in return buying Palestinian products when possible is one of the ways for ordinary people to make a difference.

The Products:

Dates :

Dates Medjoul : organic, tender and tasty, grown by farmers in the area of Jericho.

Za’atar :

A mixture of spices typical of the Middle East prepared by two women’s cooperatives located in the villages of Anza and Maythaloun in Jenin.

Soap Nablus:

Soap made of olive oil, all natural and manufactured by hand by the Cooperative Farkha.

Olive oil Zeitouna:

Olive oil first cold pressed, extra virgin and organic produitre by farmers in different regions of the West Bank.

Fair Trade Certified by TransFair Canada

Keffiyeh (Made in Palestine) :

Keffiyehs made by the only Keffiyeh factory left, located in the West Bank.

Half of the sales price goes directly to the farmer’s salary and a portion of the proceeds are used to build playgrounds in Palestinian refugee camps.

For a list of stores in Quebec which sell these products, please click here. Medical Aid for Palestine is featured in the French language documentary show ‘Second Regard’. To see it, please click here