Palestinian farmers in Qaryut town south of Nablus recently started picking their olives despite Israeli settlers’ threats and attacks.
Since the start of the harvest season the farmers were subjected to fierce attacks damaging many of their olive trees and agricultural tools.
Like local farmers the family of Mohammed Badawi is only allowed to pick the olive harvest in just four days. However the family needs 14 days to complete all their work.
Mohammed Badawi needs an Israeli permit to enter his land. This is why the majority of the harvest is left unpicked.
Badawi pointed out that settlers deliberately damage olive trees hurting the farmers who rely on their annual harvests.
He expressed fear they’ll face more violence during this year’s olive harvest due to settlers’ practices that are always launched under Israeli army’s protection.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
Over 700000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.
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