Israeli Settlers Attack Diplomats and Journalists During Olive Harvest

Israeli settlers have launched a wave of physical assaults and crop thefts against Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank during the annual olive harvest. The violence includes arson and the destruction of centuries-old trees, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recording over 200 attacks since September 1. Palestinian authorities report three deaths resulting from these attacks this season.

High-profile incidents include the assault of a European diplomatic delegation in Taybeh, where a French mayor was beaten and a Belgian consular vehicle was smashed. In Abu Falah, American photojournalist Heidi Levine suffered four fractured vertebrae and rib fractures after being kicked by attackers. While the Government of Israel spokesperson stated that olives picked by Jews in their ancestral homeland do not constitute theft, the government also maintained that no one should take the law into their own hands.

In response to pressure from Washington, Israeli police launched Operation Olive Leaf, arresting at least ten suspects and demolishing two unauthorized outposts. However, the Israeli rights group Yesh Din reports that 94% of investigations into settler violence are closed without indictments. The Israel Defense Forces faced criticism for a delayed response in Taybeh and were reportedly present during at least a quarter of the 125 physical attacks and 168 crop thefts documented by Yesh Din over a 24-day period.