Like thousands of Palestinian farmers, he faces growing restrictions on Israeli forces and settlers, who have made the season of the olive harvest – from September to November – a period of uncertainty and struggle.
In recent years, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (Fao) Supported olive farmers and cooperatives to improve access and management of land and water resources, introduces sustainable practices such as interlayers and help them increase food production and income using natural resources more effectively.
Olivier’s harvest is both a main source of livelihoods for thousands of families and an integral part of the Palestinian heritage.
However, attacks against harvest threaten such a heritage and hinder the work and way of life of Palestinian farmers – while settlers attacks their highest level in at least two decades, according to the United Nations Coordination Office, Ochha.
« Unprecedented » risks
« While the West Bank is preparing for Olivier’s annual harvest, the message of the farmers is clear: this year’s harvest season is marked by uncertainty, and the livelihoods are in unprecedented risk, » said Ciro Fioririllo, FAO office manager in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The combination of state and violence policies of settlers prevented the Palestinians from accessing tens of thousands of duals of agricultural land and pastures, a dunum equivalent to 1,000 square meters.
These restrictions have contributed to the destruction of the local economy and to the displacement of thousands of its Palestinian and farmers, under conditions which can constitute a forced transfer, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office (Ohchr).
Olives and the production of olive oil in the West Bank are the cornerstone of Palestinian culture.
“Our livelihoods have been cut. UN News.
Refused land access
« For the past two years now, we have denied access to our land, » said Yousef, a Palestinian farmer from Kufr Qaddum UN News. All lands in the northern area of the village were sealed with an iron door according to the most recent climbing between Iran and Israel.
The Yousef family has more than 300 duals of land, mainly cultivated with olive trees, located near the Israeli colony of Kedumim, in the governorate of Qalqiliya.
Since the attack on Hamas against Israel in 2023, they have had no access to their land, including during the harvest season.
“These lands cover about four to five thousand dunams. We were prevented from accessing it, « said Yousef, adding that » this problem [affected] All farmers from all the West Bank. »»
Mohammed, a Palestinian farmer from Kifl Harris, a village near the Israeli colony Ariel in the governor of Salfit, was denied access to more than 3,000 dunums of Olivier cultural lands located within the border of the regulation. This restriction has completely reduced the capacity of Kifl Harris farmers to take care and harvest their groves.
« The olive season is our main economic rescue buoy as an asbestos and employees in the public and the private sectors, » said Mohammed UN NewsAdding that Palestinian farmers had had no reason to be denied access.
« After the settlers installed a caravan on the lands of our family, access to more than 200 dunums of agricultural land, a large part planted with olive trees, was limited, » said Ahmed, a farmer from Khalet Al Luza, in Ocha.
Harassment of colonists
« We have endured all kinds of harassment of the colonists and the [Israeli] The army, ”said Kufr Qaddum.
In an advisory opinion from July 2024, the International Court of Justice (Icj) concluded that the continuous presence of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory is illegal and that it is forced to put an end to its illegal presence « as quickly as possible ».
The settlers installed a caravan on a Palestinian family in Khalet Al Luza, in the West Bank.
“The settlers’ attacks have affected all the farmers. Me, personally, I was prevented from reaching my land, and we were subjected to attacks repeated by settlers and the army, including the theft of olive crops, theft of olive harvesting equipment, vehicle vandalism, reduction of olive trees and threats, « said Yousef.
In a statement published on July 30, the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHC) warned of the climbing of the violence of Israeli colonists « with acquiescence, support and, in some cases, the participation of Israeli forces.
He said the Israeli government « Policy and legislative actions seem to aim for certain regions of the West Bank of the Palestinian population, making the colony business progress and consolidating the annexation » of large parts of the West Bank.
« We urge you to work with international institutions by peaceful means to obtain a result that allows us to access our land in complete safety and to harvest the fruits of our olives and trees, » argued Yousef.
« With our resource partners, FAO is committed to continuing to support the local olive culture, which is as important for livelihoods and food security as for Palestinian culture and tradition, » said Fiorillo.
*The names of this story have been modified to protect the identity of those presented.
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
