The image of the cactus is central to Asim Abu Shakra oeuvre. The thorny plant is indigenous to the Palestinian countryside and is known for its great tenacity and its deep network of roots that makes it practically impossible to eradicate. As such, it has become a popular symbol of Palestinian identity. Abu Shakra made the connection between the cactus as a national icon (sabra – an Arab symbol for tenacity, with the word saber itself meaning patience) – and his own experience as an Arab living in Tel Aviv when he saw a potted cactus on the windowsill of a neighbour.