JNF planted a foreign tree all over Israel

The Jerusalem [Aleppo] Pine is the most commonly found tree in the forests of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael. KKL-JNG planted most of the pine forests over recent decades and the natural pine woodlands are small and far between. Uncultivated pines are rare in the country and the Jerusalem Pine is in effect the only species of wild pine that grows here. The most beautiful forests of Jerusalem Pine can be found on the Carmel.

KEREN KAYEMET LEISRAEL

The Jerusalem Pine. Photo: KKL-JNF Photo Archive

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_halepensis

Pinus halepensis, commonly known as the Aleppo pine, also known as the Jerusalem pine,^[2] is a pine native to the Mediterranean region. It was officially named by the botanist Philip Miller in his 1768 book The Gardener's Dictionary; he probably never went to Aleppo but mentions seeing large specimens at Goodwood in the garden of the Duke of Richmond, which were transplanted (perhaps sent by Alexander Russell from Syria) in 1739.^[3]

The native range of Pinus halepensis extends from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Spain north to southern France, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania, and east to Greece. It has been introduced into many parts of the world, including Portugal. There is an outlying population (from which it was first described) in Syria, Lebanon, southern Turkey, Jordan, Israel and Palestine.

In Israel, natural patches of Aleppo pine forests can be found in the Carmel and Galilee regions.^[12] The Aleppo pine, along with Pinus brutia, has been planted extensively by the Jewish National Fund. It proved very successful in Yatir Forest in the northern Negev (on the edge of the desert), where foresters had not expected it to survive. Many Aleppo pine forests exist today in Israel and are used for recreational purposes. Although it is a local species, some argue that the historical replacement of natural oak maquis shrubland and garrigue with tall stands of pine has created "ecological deserts" and has significantly changed the species assemblage of these regions.^[13] The species produces timber which is valued for its hardness, density and unproblematic seasoning. Seasoned timber is inclined to tear out with planing, but this can be avoided by using sharp blades or adjusting the sharpening angle of tools.^[14]

So it's really a Western Mediterranean tree. It's not Middle Eastern. It appears naturally a little bit in Israel but it shouldn't be all over the country. And this may explain why I personally am so uncomfortable with it. It looks odd to me these taller kinds of trees. It looks unnatural. I felt bad for a while that I found Jerusalem area forests unattractive. I thought, I am actually allowed to criticize Israeli society, but Eretz Yisroel itself not. But it turns out that even the trees of Israel are Zionist.

I noticed that I like the Galil and the Negev where they didn't plant these as much. I like the Olive trees and the small brush trees. But these tall trees, whose planting probably reflects Zionist arrogance, don't belong here. And they soak up water too as it turns out.

In sum, Pinus halepensis the [Aleppo] Pine is the most commonly found tree in the forests of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael. KKL-JNG planted most of the pine forests over recent decades and the natural pine woodlands are small and far between. The native range of Pinus halepensis extends from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Spain north to southern France, Malta, Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania, and east to Greece. It is not native to Palestine.