Rabbi Dov Lior Rules Olive Harvest from Enemy Trees is a Mitzvah

Rabbi Dov Lior, a prominent figure among Religious Zionist rabbis, has issued a ruling permitting the harvesting of olives from trees planted by Arabs in Judea and Samaria, even in areas distant from Jewish settlements. According to Rabbi Lior, this act fulfills the commandment of conquering the land and asserting Jewish ownership.

In his detailed halachic ruling, Rabbi Lior stated that the land was never legally purchased by the Arabs. He wrote, "The nation of Israel has never despaired of the Land of Israel. The Arabs never purchased the land from the nation of Israel or from a private Jew, and therefore it is stolen in their hands, and as is known according to Halakha, land cannot be stolen."

Rabbi Lior also addressed compensation for planting the trees, asserting that the Arabs "have already received more than enough in the fruits they have eaten all these years until now." Consequently, he ruled that "harvesting olives in the Holy Land is completely permissible, and even has a special merit considering the security dangers of Arabs approaching Jewish settlements."

This ruling comes amid a sharp rise in terror incidents and provocations under the cover of the Palestinian olive harvest. According to data from the Binyamin Regional Council, approximately 48 security incidents were recorded around the harvest in the past week alone, compared to about 23 incidents in the week prior to its commencement, highlighting the security volatility surrounding the issue.