Bitter Fruit of Palestine dramatises aspects of Zionism and Nazism in the context of the origins of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

In the prologue Rebecca the student daughter of separated parents, Golda a Jewess and an Aryran policeman, argues with her father about the policies of the Nazis against the background of the 1936 Olympic Games. She tells her father of her dilemma as to whether to emigrate to Palestine. In the first act, Israel and Sara a couple in a Jews House in Dresden circa 1940-1945 face the daily humilations heaped on the Jews.

Chocolate, pets, flowers, newspapers were all forbidden to Jews. Israel, a professor of history is visited by Dr Katchen, a Zionist Agent attenmpting to do deals with Hitler. He is contemptuous at the failure of the Jews of the Exile to fight back and extols the virility of the Sabras of Palestine.

Israel makes clear his contempt for the Zionist dreams for Eretz Israel and the inherent racism of the Zionist enterprise. Israel is arrested by a Gestapo officer, Kohler for a breach of the blackout regulations.

He is interviewed by Andreas the Interrogator, Rebecca's father who reminds Israel that he taught Rebecca and reveals thet his wife Golda and Rebecca are Jewish and have gone to Palestine.

Both in different ways argue that the Nazis are a temporary phenomenon. Israel emphasises his German identity and reiterates his opposition to Zionism.

In the next scene three Nazis discuss the plan to exterminate the Jews.

Israel and Sara are reduced to poverty but still cling to the hope that the Nazis will be defeated. They swear to bear witnesss

Kohler arrives to take them away for transportation.

The second act takes place in Jerusalem 1947-48 and involves the declaration of the State Of Isreal and the war that breaks out. Golda and David are soldier politicians who believe that the Arab must be persuaded "To trek". Rebecca lives with a Palestinian, Sakini and vehemently opposes her mother's philosophy

After a fierce confrontation with Golda and David, in which they reveal Rebecca's pregnancy Sakini and Rebecca reflect on the religious and political history that has created the hatred between Palestinians and Jews. They are visited by their friend a rabbi and lecturer activist, Ben Yehuda who confronts David and Golda with his memories of the Holocaust and challenges their attitudes to the Palestinians

" I hear too many familiar words in Israel today".

Sakini emotively states what it is like to feel like a prisoner in your own country

"Shall I hate blindly...my eyes unable to see the humanity in my oppressors?

Or shall I submit cravenly, like the sheep to the knife?

Shall I become a samid...one who waits amidst the mayhem whilst the Zionists circle their prey?

The play ends with Rebecca blowing out the candles on the menorah and promising

"I shall bear witness".