Israel Demolishes West Bank Olive Groves Ahead of Harvest
Israeli forces removed olive trees near Ramallah in August, weeks before the annual harvest season begins.
Key points
- Israeli bulldozers removed olive groves near Ramallah in late August, weeks before the harvest.
- The Palestinian Authority reported 19,375 olive trees were affected by attacks in August.
- Local farmers estimate they produce about 120 drums of olive oil from the land each year.
Israeli military bulldozers removed rows of olive trees near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The action occurred in late August, just weeks before the traditional harvest season starts.
Residents of Deir Nidham reported that the demolition began on Monday and continued into Tuesday. Farmers stated that the timing was designed to cause maximum economic damage before they could collect their crops.
Farmers report significant losses
Abd Alfattah Tamimi, a local landowner, said the army destroyed trees on his family’s land. He noted that the destruction extended to the properties of his neighbors as well.
Another farmer, Nather Tamimi, told Reuters that his family produced about 120 drums of olive oil annually. He claimed the military also uprooted trees located between houses.
Official positions and local estimates
The Israeli military said it was checking a request for comment from Reuters. It had not responded by Wednesday evening of that week.
Israel has previously cited security concerns, such as preventing ambushes, for clearing land. Palestinian human rights groups reject this explanation, arguing the actions deprive farmers of income.
Context for agricultural impact
The Palestinian Authority’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported that attacks in August affected 21,508 trees. This includes 19,375 olive trees specifically.
Local estimates place this year's olive production at 21,000 tonnes. This figure exceeds the local demand of about 15,000 tonnes, according to Al Jazeera English reporting.
