Tulkarm: Israeli colonists on Wednesday stole the olive harvest and equipment belonging to the farmers of Shufa village, located southeast of the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm, according to a farmer.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Issam Abu Ilayya reported that three colonists on quad bikes invaded the villagers' lands in the southwestern part of the village. They forced the olive harvesters to leave and seized their olive harvest, tools, and mobile phones. The assailants originated from a nearby pastoral colonial outpost, established just 500 meters away from Shufa village.
Abu Ilayya highlighted that the colonists from this outpost have been closely monitoring the villagers, encroaching upon their olive groves, and expelling them. These attacks have become recurrent as part of an attempt to take over more land for colonial settlement expansion.
The olive harvest is vital for the West Bank, with over 12 million olive trees planted across 45% of its agricultural land. This harvest constitutes a significant source of economic sustainability for thousands of Palestinian families. According to UN OCHA, the olive oil industry supports the livelihoods of more than 100,000 families and accounts for a quarter of the gross agricultural income of the occupied territories.
Local NGO MIFTAH emphasizes that olive trees hold more than economic significance for Palestinians. They symbolize Palestinians' attachment to their land, representing resistance and resilience due to their ability to thrive under poor soil conditions and their long lifespan, paralleling Palestinian history and continuity on the land.
Violence by colonists against Palestinians and their property is a routine occurrence in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities. This violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes. Approximately 1 million Israeli colonists reside in colonies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in violation of international law.