The help extended by one family to another during the olive harvest season is an old Palestinian tradition dating back to time immemorial.
Israeli restrictions and failure to investigate crimes against Palestinians mar the olive-picking season.
The olive harvest season starts in mid-October and continues for a few weeks. Nearly half of the agricultural land in the occupied Palestinian territories is planted with olive trees and the olive oil industry supports the livelihoods of around 80000 families.
Each year hundreds of international Palestinian and Israeli volunteers take to the fields to help protect farmers from recurring harassment and violence by radical settlers.
Olive trees a symbol of Palestinian culture and steadfastness have been routinely burned down uprooted or poisoned. According to the United Nation’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Palestinian farmers lose $12.3m in income each year in this way.
