Settler Violence Surges in West Bank and Jerusalem, Targeting Olive Harvest
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Settler violence and Israeli forces' actions escalated in the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the olive harvest season, with incidents including crop theft, farmer assaults, and tree uprooting. Dozens of ancient olive trees were destroyed south of Nablus, and settlers attacked farmers in Turmus Ayya, injuring one. In September alone, settlers conducted 647 attacks, contributing to widespread damage to Palestinian agricultural lands and over $66.5 million in olive crop losses.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Settler violence and Israeli forces escalated attacks on Palestinians and their property during the olive harvest season.
- Dozens of ancient olive trees were uprooted by Israeli forces south of Nablus.
- Settlers stole olive crops, assaulted farmers, and blocked access to agricultural lands.
- In September, settlers carried out 647 attacks in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
- Palestinian olive crop losses exceeded $66.5 million by the end of September.
- Settlers also entered Al-Aqsa Mosque, expanded settlements, and attacked property in the West Bank.
Settler attacks against Palestinians, their property, and agricultural lands escalated across the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Monday. Incidents included the theft of olive crops, assaults on farmers, and the blocking of access to land for harvesting. Simultaneously, Israeli forces uprooted dozens of ancient olive trees south of Nablus.
In the Masoudiya area near Burqa village, northwest of Nablus, settlers cut off electricity for the fifth time in over two months, a move described as systematic and intensifying since a nearby outpost was established. "The area is subjected to systematic attacks that have noticeably escalated following the establishment of a settlement outpost near it," said Diyab Hajj, an official defending Masoudiya lands.
In Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, a Palestinian was injured by settlers who threw stones at farmers and prevented villagers from harvesting olives. Settlers also stole olive crops from lands in Deir Dibwan, east of Ramallah, and others encroached on agricultural areas in Burqa village, east of the city. South of Nablus, settlers and Israeli forces prevented residents of 'Ourta village from reaching their lands to harvest olives.
Israeli forces also uprooted dozens of ancient olive trees in the "Al-Sur" area, east of Al-Lubban Al-Sharqiya village, south of Nablus. The Al-Baidar human rights organization stated that these uprootings cause direct losses due to the economic, environmental, and historical value of the trees, which are a primary source of livelihood for many Palestinian families.
In East Jerusalem, settlers entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and performed rituals, including prostration, in the eastern section under heavy police protection. In Bethlehem, settlers moved new caravans to the Abu Zu'arur area, east of Al-Minyah village, as part of settlement expansion. In the Hebron area, settlers released their sheep into the courtyard of a home in Khirbet Aqawis, Yatta, and in Ramallah, settlers allegedly poisoned sheep, using this as a pretext to attack Al-Mughayyir village.
These incidents occur during the olive harvest season, which annually sees confrontations and restrictions on farmers. According to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, settlers carried out 647 attacks in September alone, contributing to a total of 2,051 attacks by settlers and Israeli forces. These attacks resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians, injuries to 88, and the destruction or uprooting of 14,600 trees, including 9,334 olive trees. The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture reported that by the end of September, over 98,000 olive trees were damaged, with direct crop losses exceeding $66.5 million. The olive season is crucial for thousands of Palestinian families' income, and these repeated attacks and access restrictions threaten the harvest and economic well-being of farmers.
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