Olive harvest gone before it even began. As the season that nearly three mn Palestinians rely on for income comes to a close, families have been unable to reach their olive trees due to attacks and intimidation by Israeli settlers, reports The Guardian. No harvest also means no oil, soap, and none of the previously expected USD 70mn in earnings this year.

But it’s not just economic: These trees — which can take up to 50 years to grow — along with being the largest agricultural product on the West Bank, are inherent to the Palestinian identity and culture. Usually, the harvest is coordinated between local authorities and the Israeli military, but following the events of 7 October, all requests by Palestinians to reach their trees have been denied, says the head of the village council Mahmoud Ahmed.

Now, locals are left with no options. With no way to reach their olive trees, blocked main roads, and threats of violence, the debts are racking up and Palestinians don’t know what to do. Even those who once worked in Israel, most commonly as builders, are denied crossing from the West Bank.

Maria Callas,one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, known for her unique and strong voice, is being celebrated globally to commemorate her 100th birthday.

A short yet legendary career. Her timeless voice is described as “a shadow that remains after a shock, after anger, the sound of a woman realizing she has nothing left to live for,”the New York Times recalls. With a short yet impactful time in the spotlight, she has been able to make a resounding impression on the craft of opera singing and remains an emblematic figure in operatic history, the NYT adds.

In honor of her centenary, the Guardian has shared some of her top performances to grace our ears:

#1- LA TRAVIATA– It is one of Verdi’s famed operas that featuresa tragic tale of a courtesan known as Violetta which was masterfully played by Callas. Violetta left everything behind searching for true love.

#2- LA NORMA (means normal in Italian)–This performance marks one of the diva’s signature roles, even though she witnessed a decline at that time. It is a tragic opera that comes in two acts by Vincenzo Bellini with the libretto by Felice Romani from the play Norma.

#3- TOSCA–It is Puccini’s 1899 opera. Coming in three acts, it tells the story of a strong opera singer called Floria Tosca, who fought to save her lover Cavaradossi from the sadistic police officer Scarpia.

#4- LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR–It is a tragic opera that comes in three acts from the ScottishWalter Scott’s 1819 historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor. It features the hard times Lucia went through when she was caught up in a family feud for loving their sworn enemy.

#5- PARSIFAL– This opera comes in three acts writtenby the German composer Richard Wagner. It tells the story of a young archer whose main mission is to save the knights of the Holy Grail by returning the Holy Spear.

BY THE WAY, YOU CAN SEE AND HEAR THEM HERE, IN OM EL DONIA…Next week, our very own Cairo Opera House, in collaboration with the Greek Embassy, will host a concert by Egyptian and Greek performers to celebrate the diva’s 100th birthday. Check out our Out and About section below for more infomation.

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