Ben Abu noted that the KKL-JNF, which was envisioned in the Diaspora before the creation of the State, has turned “barren lands into gardens and fields, covered stony hills with a green garment of forest” and is currently involved in the development of water reservoirs to aid in the water shortage Israel is experiencing.
“There is a saying: ‘one mountain cannot meet another mountain, but people do meet.’ And we meet here in the Hills of Jerusalem with you who come from Montenegro. One more mountain and many more people that we wish to call our friends,” said Ben Abu.
Avinoam Binder noted that visitors to Montenegro are greeted by the “millions of millions” of trees covering the mountains of the country, which is the home to one of the oldest and greatest forest in Europe. “KKL-JNF has something in common with Montenegro and that is the forests,” said Binder. “But there is a big difference between you and KKL-JNF. The trees in Montenegro were given by Mother Nature. The trees in Israel were hand planted.”
Since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, KKL-JNF has planted some two hundred and twenty million trees, said Binder. “The trees that you see here were hand-planted. We know when each tree was planted and by whom,” he said. “So it gives us great pleasure that you are here planting an olive tree and that you are participating in the holy work of KKL-JNF of planting and making the State of Israel green.”
Binder presented the prime minister with a specially framed certificate in honor of the ceremony. “Thank you for this privilege,” said the prime minister as he and his wife prepared to plant their olive tree sapling. “Montenegro is certainly honored today to be a part of this impressive Grove of Nations within this Jerusalem Forest.”