West Bank Olive Harvest Threatened by Settler Violence and Restrictions
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS Arabic by baba
The West Bank's olive harvest is under threat from escalating settler attacks and movement restrictions, impacting farmers and production. Since 1967, an estimated one million olive trees have been destroyed, with thousands lost recently. Settlers employ new tactics like poisoning trees and flooding fields, while military orders block access to farmland. Exporting olive oil faces significant logistical and financial hurdles due to border closures and import bans on agricultural supplies.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- West Bank olive harvest faces unprecedented threats from settler violence and restrictions.
- An estimated one million olive trees have been destroyed in the West Bank since 1967.
- Settlers use tactics including tree poisoning and flooding fields to disrupt harvests.
- Military orders and the separation barrier restrict farmers' access to thousands of dunams of land.
- Exporting olive oil is hampered by border closures and increased logistical costs.
- Farmers face additional burdens from bans on certain fertilizers and agricultural treatments.
The olive sector in the West Bank is facing unprecedented challenges as the harvest season begins, marked by escalating settler attacks, regulatory hurdles, and economic restrictions impacting farmers and local production. Agricultural expert the agricultural sector expert told i24NEWS that targeting olive trees is a long-standing issue, with estimates indicating that approximately one million olive trees have been uprooted or destroyed since 1967. Over 260,000 of these were lost in the last 14 years, and thousands of ancient trees have been damaged in recent months alone.
New tactics by settlers include burning and cutting down trees, as well as poisoning them or flooding groves with wastewater to prevent farmers from accessing their land and harvesting their crops. Movement restrictions and military orders are also preventing farmers from reaching their land located behind the separation barrier or adjacent to settlements, denying access to tens of thousands of dunams in recent years.
Exporting olive oil is further complicated by logistical and financial obstacles, including frequent closures of main crossings. This forces traders to use alternative routes, incurring doubled transportation and customs costs. Additionally, a ban on certain types of fertilizers and agricultural treatments adds to the farmers' burdens.
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