Israeli Rabbi Issues Controversial Fatwa Sanctioning Seizure of Palestinian Olives
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
Rabbi Dov Lior issued a religious ruling permitting settlers to seize Palestinian olive crops in the West Bank, asserting Jewish ownership of the land. The fatwa comes amid increased settler violence during the olive harvest season. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission documented 34 attacks on farmers, resulting in at least 19 injuries and hindering the harvest.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Dov Lior issued a religious ruling allowing settlers to seize Palestinian olive crops in the West Bank.
- The ruling claims the land belongs to Jews and Palestinians have no legitimate right to it.
- The fatwa was issued during the West Bank olive harvest season.
- The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported 34 attacks on farmers.
- At least 19 people were injured in attacks by settlers and the Israeli military.
Rabbi Dov Lior, a prominent figure in Religious Zionism and former chief rabbi of the Kiryat Arba settlement, has issued a religious ruling permitting Israeli settlers to seize Palestinian olive crops in the occupied West Bank. The ruling, titled "General Harvesting in the Groves Spread Across Judea, Samaria, and Benjamin," asserts that the land belongs to Jews and that Palestinians have no legitimate right to it under Jewish law, as they did not purchase it.
Lior claims that preventing Palestinians from accessing their lands for security reasons renders them "desperate" for their crops, thus allowing Jews to take the fruit. He also stated that Palestinians have "received their full wages and more" from the crops they have consumed over the years. The rabbi concluded by encouraging olive harvesting even in areas far from settlements, viewing it as a demonstration of Jewish sovereignty and a fulfillment of asserting control over the land.
This fatwa coincides with the West Bank olive harvest season, which has seen a continuous rise in settler attacks that hinder Palestinian farmers' access to their land. The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported 34 attacks, restrictions, and acts of intimidation against farmers and the olive harvest on Friday across six West Bank governorates. These incidents resulted in at least 19 injuries, including women, the elderly, journalists, and a civil defense volunteer, with some cases of tear gas inhalation.
According to the commission's data, the attacks were distributed as follows: 15 in the Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, 13 in Nablus, two each in Salfit and Jenin, and one each in Tulkarm and Hebron. The assaults, carried out by the Israeli military and settlers, included beatings, live fire, tear gas, arrests, detentions, burning vehicles and olive trees, theft of crops and agricultural equipment, and forcing farmers off their land.
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