“It is wonderful to be out here in the forest at the end of an intensive day”, said Foreign Minister of Togo,
Robert Dussey, when he arrived with his delegation at the VIP tree planting site at the
Kennedy Memorial just outside Jerusalem. They had just come from a visit to the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Also on their agenda that day was a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and various other government officials.
Elisha Mizrahi of KKL-JNF's Public Relations Department was onsite to welcome the visitors. He explained to them the role of KKL-JNF in Israel and told them that all the trees they see in the surrounding hills were planted by hand.
“In fact, almost every tree you may see in the entire country was planted by hand under the auspices of KKL-JNF. Our organization was established some 117 years ago, and since then we have
planted over a quarter of a billion trees in an enterprise that continues to this day. The colors of KKL-JNF are green, brown and blue. Green symbolizes the forests; brown symbolizes the earth; and blue symbolizes water. We are currently putting a lot of emphasis on
water harvesting and water production.”
The Togolese foreign minister, who is also a professor of political philosophy, said that he was thrilled to be attending a tree planting ceremony in Jerusalem.
“I am very happy to be here with you. I too have symbolic colors in my life, and the most powerful is green, like the color of the forest around us. For me, green symbolizes hope and the hope that I will return to Jerusalem many more times. In fact, each time I come I will visit the tree that I am going to plant today.”
Michal Filosof of the Israel Foreign Ministry’s West African Department said that Togo is one of Israel’s best friends in Africa. She said that the West African state was one of the nine countries that voted against the recent UN resolution condemning the United States’ recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
“Foreign Minister Robert Dussey is also personally very connected to Israel.
He was formerly a Catholic monk and even speaks some Hebrew. This is his fourth visit to our country. ”
Yoram Elron, Deputy Director-General in Israel’s foreign ministry and responsible for relations with Africa, told Dussey that he was honored to be hosting him in Israel.
“We have no better friend than you. A friend in need is a friend indeed and we thank you for your courage and bravery in standing by our side through thick and thin, all the time. I too will cherish your tree and I look forward to accompanying you to monitor its progress.” He then read the Planters Prayer.
While walking to the tree-planting spot, Elisha Mizrachi told his guests how scientists from around the world have taken an interest in the
Yatir Forest near Beer Sheva.
“Yatir forest is the biggest forest in the country and was also planted by hand. Today it is center of much research due to its ability to change its own microclimate and hopefully in the long term to influence and moderate global warming.”
The Togolese minister was then invited to join the ecological effort and to plant his own tree.
Mizrachi told him that they had specially chosen a biblical species for this particular ceremony.
“We are about to plant what we call a “pioneer tree”. These are hardy trees that can survive in the desert. There are also pioneer fruit trees such as the olive, the pomegranate, and the carob that grow in desert climates. You know that from the bible. Today, Mr. Minister you will plant a carob tree.”
The Togolese Minister was clearly delighted to plant such special a tree. Once it was standing firmly in the ground, he gave the sapling its first watering. With his other hand, he touched the Togolese flag next to the freshly planted tree, and said: “May this carob tree grow strong and represent Togo in Israel forever.”
There ceremony concluded with Robert Dussey being presented with a framed KKL-JNF tree-planting certificate.