Israeli Actions Disrupt Olive Harvest for Lebanese and Palestinians
Translated & summarized from Arab48 by baba
Farmers in the West Bank and southern Lebanon are facing significant disruptions to their olive harvest due to Israeli military actions and settler violence. In Lebanon's Kfar Shuba, Israeli forces blocked access to farmlands, while Palestinian farmers in the West Bank reported widespread vandalism and theft by settlers. These incidents have led to substantial crop losses and damage to olive trees, impacting livelihoods and threatening agricultural sustainability in the region. Farmers are seeking security assurances and protection to access their lands and salvage their harvests.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli forces and settlers are disrupting the olive harvest season for farmers in southern Lebanon and the West Bank.
- Farmers in Kfar Shuba, Lebanon, were prevented from harvesting olives by Israeli troops enforcing a restricted zone.
- Palestinian farmer Bashir Naim reported extensive damage and theft by settlers targeting his olive trees and crops.
- The conflict and restrictions have caused significant losses to olive production in southern Lebanon, estimated at half the yield.
- The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented 136 olive harvest-related incidents by Israeli forces and settlers in October.
Farmers in the West Bank and southern Lebanon are facing escalating Israeli attacks and restrictions that are severely impacting the olive harvest season. In southern Lebanon's Kfar Shuba, Israeli forces prevented farmers from accessing their lands to harvest olives on a recent Thursday. This incident occurred after Israel declared a "red line" in April, restricting access to agricultural areas near the border, which are now designated as a buffer zone. The restrictions have made it difficult for farmers to tend to their crops and return to their villages. One farmer, Fadi Shebli, reported that Israeli forces had bulldozed most of his olive trees, leaving only two of about ten years old. The olive harvest is a crucial source of income and seasonal employment for thousands in southern Lebanon.
In an effort to access their lands, Kfar Shuba residents are awaiting security assurances from a committee overseeing the cessation of hostilities, known as "the Mechanism." This committee, established under a US-French sponsored agreement to monitor UN Security Council Resolution 1701, coordinates security arrangements between Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture reported that approximately 6,600 hectares of olive groves have been damaged due to the conflict, with the "Southern Farmers Gathering" estimating that southern Lebanon has lost about half of its olive production. Farmers also face dangers from unexploded ordnance and war remnants, with local municipalities warning residents to exercise extreme caution in olive groves.
Palestinian farmers in the West Bank are experiencing similar difficulties, facing attacks from settlers targeting their trees, crops, and equipment. In the village of Taybeh, northeast of Ramallah, farmer Bashir Naim fears losing his entire olive harvest after settlers vandalized his trees, breaking branches and scattering olives. Naim stated that settlers prevented him from freely accessing his land, which contains ancient olive trees that previously yielded about 40 large containers of olive oil annually. He described the settlers' actions as "revenge" rather than harvesting, noting that the damage could take two to three years to repair.
Activists attempted to assist Naim in harvesting his remaining crop but were reportedly driven away by settlers. The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented 136 incidents related to the olive harvest season since early October, including beatings, expulsions, intimidation, and theft. Beyond agricultural damage, Naim also reported that settler attacks have prevented him from moving into his newly built home after seven years of construction.
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