The humble olive w/ Robert Massoud
May 25, 2025
Robert Massoud is the founder of Zatoun, which bottles and distributes
olive oil from Palestine to North America. He also ran Beit Zatoun
House, a cultural centre and meeting place in downtown Toronto for
many years.
Zatoun is a grassroots, volunteer-powered initiative launched in
2004. As North America's longest-standing source for fair trade
Palestinian olive oil, Zatoun uses this essential staple as a
symbol of solidarity, resilience, and cultural connection. The
organization not only helps Palestinian farmers earn a livelihood
under challenging conditions, but also sparks meaningful dialogue
across continents. Zatoun is behind impactful projects like Trees
for Palestine, which plants 10,000s olive trees each year in
Palestine, and Project Hope, offering creative arts therapy to
children in refugee camps. Since its inception, Zatoun has invested
close to $600,000 into these efforts, blending advocacy with
practical support for communities living under occupation.
Check out this 4-part radio
documentary.
The Beit Zatoun legacy
site
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