The olive branch

Peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
William Shakespeare. Henry IV, Part 2, act 4.

We  bought this olive-wood pestal and mortar in a Souk in the Syrian town of Aleppo in Syria in happier times.
The olive-branch is, of course, a traditional symbol of peace. I just wish that it could perform its magic in the Middle East. The current suffering of the innocents in Syria, Palestine, Israel and elsewhere is truly appalling and my heart bleeds for them all.