The 1918 Jaffa Orange Grove Destruction: Scorched Earth in Palestine

In 1918, as World War I ground toward its close, Ottoman forces under Jamal Pasha systematically destroyed thousands of Jaffa orange groves — the economic backbone of Palestine. This episode examines the scorched-earth campaign that targeted the prized shamouti oranges, devastating fellahin communities and reshaping the landscape. We explore the role of Jewish agricultural settlements like Petah Tikva, the resistance efforts of figures like Najib Nassar and Aaron Aaronsohn, and the competing narratives of wartime necessity, ethnic targeting, and economic warfare. Drawing on reports from the American Colony of Jerusalem and local archives, we uncover how the destruction of the orange groves became a symbol of loss and resilience, and how it foreshadowed later conflicts over land and identity.

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