UN-Backed Olive Harvest Season Sparks Controversy Amid Violence Against Jews

The olive harvest season in the West Bank has commenced, with the United Nations reportedly providing significant funding and support for Palestinian farmers. The newspaper 'Davar' reported that approximately 2,000 volunteers are preparing for the harvest, aiming to create a 'bubble of sanity.' This initiative is described as being heavily financed by European money and based on the narrative of protecting 'innocent Palestinians harvesting olives.'

According to UN data cited in the article, there were 162 incidents during the 2024 harvest, with the organization reporting a total of 1,400 incidents across the West Bank over a full year. 'Davar' also reported an incident where an activist was allegedly injured by a 'settler drone,' a claim the article refutes as false and part of a pattern of blaming settlers for violence.

The article criticizes the UN's involvement, noting that the organization's harvest report lists groups like 'Rabbinical Voice for Human Rights' alongside the UAWC (Union of Agricultural Work Committees). Israel has designated UAWC as an arm of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) due to its employees' alleged involvement in a past attack. Despite this, the UN reportedly continues to support these organizations.

The piece highlights a stark contrast between the UN's focus on protecting Palestinian harvesters and the violence experienced by Jewish residents. It cites several incidents from 2002, 2015, and the past week, where Jewish individuals, including a soldier and a shepherd, were attacked or killed during or around the olive harvest period. The article notes that the UN report on the killing of Netanel Kron, who died defending his son, referred to him simply as an 'Israeli settler in a friction incident,' potentially mischaracterizing the violence against him.

The author questions the UN's approach, suggesting that the organization's volunteers might be better utilized protecting Jewish residents from Palestinian attackers during the harvest season, given the reported casualties among Jews.