Israeli army stops Rabbis from protecting West Bank olive harvest

Image: RHR

Source: Rabbis For Human Rights

On Friday morning, 15 November, despite prior coordination and approval, the Israeli army prevented about 150 activists from Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) from reaching the olive harvest in the village of Deir Jarir in the West Bank.

The activists were detained at the Hizma checkpoint, where they were given a "closed military zone" order, preventing their entry into the village. In the same village exactly a week prior, Israeli volunteers and Palestinian farmers were violently attacked by Jewish extremist settlers while army forces stood by rather than repelling the assailants.

Today's harvest activity was planned to be the last for this season, and is being carried out in consultation with and coordination with the relevant authorities, with the aim of assisting the farmers and preventing any unnecessary friction with settlers from the area.

Activists and farmers gathered together at the Tayybe Junction to offer thanks for the joint work, volunteerism, and Israeli-Palestinian cooperation - which not only helps with the olive harvest, but also gives hope to many that one day things could be different.

RHR Executive Director Rabbi Avi Dabush said: "Once again, the army is rewarding the perpetrators of Jewish terrorism, and instead of investing its strength in ensuring the safety of activists and farmers in the West Bank, it is spending its time issuing groundless and unfounded orders in order to hinder our progress and harass farmers. This is a jarring end to a harvest season that took place during days of war and in a reality where Jewish terrorism shows its ugly face almost daily in violent incidents against Palestinians in the West Bank.

"This is regrettable, outrageous, and must change. Alongside this, our work in the field throughout the entire harvest season, and the hundreds of volunteers who came to dozens of plots and helped dozens of farmers, are our Jewish, ethical, and humane answer to war, occupation and violence-and with God's help, we will continue to make our voice heard in the future as well."

LINK
Rabbis for Human Rights: www.rhr.org.il/eng?lang=en