Palestinian Olive Harvest Threatened by Access Restrictions and Vandalism

Palestinian olive farmers are facing significant challenges during the current harvest season, with restrictions on accessing their land and widespread vandalism posing major threats to their livelihoods. Fayyad Fayyad, Director-General of the Palestinian Olive Oil Council, stated that the primary obstacle is not production levels but the inability to reach the olive trees themselves. Data from the council indicates approximately 8,406 incidents related to olive trees and 610 acts of aggression were recorded between the start of the year and September 15th.

These aggressions include uprooting and damaging trees, crop theft, and preventing landowners from accessing their fields, even those with permits. Fayyad emphasized that being barred from one's land effectively means losing the entire harvest, regardless of its quality or quantity. Reports from the West Bank confirm that Palestinian farmers are being denied access to their olive groves as the picking season begins, with the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture documenting thousands of uprooted trees and restrictions on agricultural land access throughout the year.

Fayyad also touched upon the administrative status of the Palestinian Olive Oil Council, noting its continued operation despite changes in agricultural council affiliations and the suspension of other councils in 2018. While the council participates in international events, Fayyad stressed that external engagement does not directly address the immediate needs of farmers requiring protection for their crops and access to their land. He attributed the difficulties to a challenging political climate, election influences, and a rise in attacks on farmers and agricultural lands.

Farmer Hosni Mustafa, from Deir Ballut, shared his personal experience, detailing how settlers are preventing his family from accessing their 350-dunam (approximately 86-acre) plot, which contains olive trees up to 70 years old. He reported being threatened at gunpoint and noted the absence of protective forces. Mustafa stated that settlers are uprooting and cutting down trees, causing losses that extend beyond a single season, with his family's financial losses nearing 70,000 shekels so far. He highlighted that despite having ownership documents, they lack a representative body to advocate for them internationally, and that these aggressions have worsened over the past year.