2 nov 2019
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In the heart of Khan Younis City in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestinian farmers flock to the local market to sell various kinds of olives and olive oil, announcing a new season of joy and blessing.
The market, which sells the finest kinds of olives and olive oil, has become a central market that has been held annually for several decades. The market opens with the start of the olive season in mid-September until the end of November. In two opposite rows, sellers offer their best goods to buyers. The Palestinian olive trader Mohammed Abu Jazar, 46, said that he has been in the market for 15 years, which has earned him considerable experience in identifying olives and olive oil of high and poor quality. Abu Jazar said that the olive season this year had a relatively weak start, expecting the demand to increase in the coming days. |
The Gaza Strip is known for growing three types of olives: Chemlali, Souri and K18, Abu Jazar noted, adding that although the Gaza Strip people prefer the oil taken from the Souri olives, the oil extracted from the K18 olive is better and healthier.
The prices depend on the olive oil's type and purity. The Souri oil is the most expensive; a gallon is sold for 85 to 95 Jordanian dinars. A gallon of K18 oil is sold for 60 to 70 Jordanian dinars, while a gallon of Chemlali oil is sold for 70 to 85 Jordanian dinars.
The Gazans prefer the Souri olives and use them for pickling and oil extraction, while the Chemlali and K18 olives are mainly used for oil production.
The prices depend on the olive oil's type and purity. The Souri oil is the most expensive; a gallon is sold for 85 to 95 Jordanian dinars. A gallon of K18 oil is sold for 60 to 70 Jordanian dinars, while a gallon of Chemlali oil is sold for 70 to 85 Jordanian dinars.
The Gazans prefer the Souri olives and use them for pickling and oil extraction, while the Chemlali and K18 olives are mainly used for oil production.

Israeli soldiers invaded, Saturday, Palestinian olive orchards between Burin and Huwwara towns, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and forced the Palestinians out, in addition to threatening them with “bringing the settlers to attack them.”
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers invaded the orchards near the illegal Yitzhar colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, and attacked the families.
The soldiers even told the families that if they do not leave, they will bring the colonists from Yitzhar, known for constantly attacking the Palestinians and their lands, to assault them.
The olive harvest season in the occupied West Bank is always accompanied by dozens of Israeli violations by both the soldiers and the illegal colonists.
There have numerous violations this olive harvest season alone, including twelve just recently in Qaryout village, south of Nablus.
The attacks include assaulting the Palestinians, uprooting their trees, burning their lands and orchards, in addition to the military’s refusal in many cases to allow the Palestinians into their lands, isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall.
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinians in Nablus governorate are not allowed to enter more than 3500 Dunams of their olive orchards, except for a few days a year, after prior coordination and approval from the military.
Even when they receive the permits, the Palestinians and are forced to wait until the soldiers open the gate for them, and sometimes the soldiers do not open it at all or force them to wait for long periods.
On Friday morning, several colonists invaded a Palestinian orchard in Yasuf village, east of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and stole a donkey, blankets and olive picking tools.
Such attacks against Palestinian lands, especially olive orchards, including those carried out by soldiers, take place in various areas across the West Bank, always escalate during the olive harvest season, and include cutting, burning and uprooting trees, picking olive trees and stealing the produce, in addition to assaulting the Palestinians and forcing them out of their orchards.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers invaded the orchards near the illegal Yitzhar colony, which was built on private Palestinian lands, and attacked the families.
The soldiers even told the families that if they do not leave, they will bring the colonists from Yitzhar, known for constantly attacking the Palestinians and their lands, to assault them.
The olive harvest season in the occupied West Bank is always accompanied by dozens of Israeli violations by both the soldiers and the illegal colonists.
There have numerous violations this olive harvest season alone, including twelve just recently in Qaryout village, south of Nablus.
The attacks include assaulting the Palestinians, uprooting their trees, burning their lands and orchards, in addition to the military’s refusal in many cases to allow the Palestinians into their lands, isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall.
It is worth mentioning that the Palestinians in Nablus governorate are not allowed to enter more than 3500 Dunams of their olive orchards, except for a few days a year, after prior coordination and approval from the military.
Even when they receive the permits, the Palestinians and are forced to wait until the soldiers open the gate for them, and sometimes the soldiers do not open it at all or force them to wait for long periods.
On Friday morning, several colonists invaded a Palestinian orchard in Yasuf village, east of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and stole a donkey, blankets and olive picking tools.
Such attacks against Palestinian lands, especially olive orchards, including those carried out by soldiers, take place in various areas across the West Bank, always escalate during the olive harvest season, and include cutting, burning and uprooting trees, picking olive trees and stealing the produce, in addition to assaulting the Palestinians and forcing them out of their orchards.
1 nov 2019

Several illegal Israeli colonists invaded, on Friday morning, a Palestinian orchard in Yasuf village, east of the central West Bank city of Salfit, and stole a donkey, blankets and olive picking tools.
Eyewitnesses said the Israeli assailants came from Taffuh illegal colony, which was built on Palestinian lands, owned by Yasuf villagers.
They added that the colonists stole a donkey, in addition to blankets and olive picking tools, owned by a local farmer, identified as Jabr Abdul-Hamid Bayer.
The attack in that area is one of the dozens of violations carried out by the colonists against the Palestinians, who are just trying to enter their lands isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, especially those adjacent to the Ariel colony, east of west of Salfit.
Such attacks, including those carried out by soldiers, take place in various areas across the occupied West Bank, always escalate during the olive harvest season, and include cutting, burning and uprooting trees, picking olive trees and stealing the produce, in addition to assaulting the Palestinians and forcing them out of their orchards.
The orchards were this attack took place are isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, while the Palestinians have to obtain permits from the army to enter their own lands, and are forced to wait until the soldiers open the gate for them, and sometimes the soldiers do not open it at all, or force them to wait for longer periods.
Eyewitnesses said the Israeli assailants came from Taffuh illegal colony, which was built on Palestinian lands, owned by Yasuf villagers.
They added that the colonists stole a donkey, in addition to blankets and olive picking tools, owned by a local farmer, identified as Jabr Abdul-Hamid Bayer.
The attack in that area is one of the dozens of violations carried out by the colonists against the Palestinians, who are just trying to enter their lands isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, especially those adjacent to the Ariel colony, east of west of Salfit.
Such attacks, including those carried out by soldiers, take place in various areas across the occupied West Bank, always escalate during the olive harvest season, and include cutting, burning and uprooting trees, picking olive trees and stealing the produce, in addition to assaulting the Palestinians and forcing them out of their orchards.
The orchards were this attack took place are isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, while the Palestinians have to obtain permits from the army to enter their own lands, and are forced to wait until the soldiers open the gate for them, and sometimes the soldiers do not open it at all, or force them to wait for longer periods.
31 oct 2019

Israeli soldiers prevented dozens of Palestinians from entering their orchards to pick their olive trees, isolated behind the illegal Annexation Wall, near Ariel colony, which was built on Palestinian lands in Salfit, in central West Bank.
Media sources said the soldiers prevented the Palestinians from entering their orchards from six until nine in the morning.
They added that the soldiers were supposed to open the gate of the illegal Wall, separating them from their lands, at 5:45 in the morning, but they refused without providing any reason.
Earlier on Wednesday at night, the soldiers kept the Palestinians locked in their orchards for more than three hours, after the army claimed the officers did not have the keys for the gates.
Media sources said the soldiers prevented the Palestinians from entering their orchards from six until nine in the morning.
They added that the soldiers were supposed to open the gate of the illegal Wall, separating them from their lands, at 5:45 in the morning, but they refused without providing any reason.
Earlier on Wednesday at night, the soldiers kept the Palestinians locked in their orchards for more than three hours, after the army claimed the officers did not have the keys for the gates.

Illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers Wednesday, throwing rocks, and injuring at least three harvesters.
In the town of Huwwara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Ghassan Daghlas, a local monitor of settler violence, told WAFA that a group of colonists from the illegal Yitzhar settlement, threw rocks at farmers as they picked their olive harvest, injuring three of them.
Two of the injured were identified as Mayor of Huwwara Nasser al-Huwwari, and Deputy mayor Kamal Odeh.
At the same time, another group of settlers stole the olive harvest of Palestinian farmers near the village of Deir al-Hatab, to the east of Nablus city.
Daghlas confirmed that a number of Palestinian farmers entered their olive groves in the area of Ras Hazem, near the illegal settlement of Alon Moreh, but the Israeli settlers had stolen their harvest and destroyed some of the olive trees.
He condemned the settlers’ attacks against olive harvesters, which often occurs under the watch of Israeli soldiers, a policy in place not just to discourage Palestinians from tending to their farmlands, but to effectively force them to leave the area and give up on their land.
Over the past four weeks, the West Bank has witnessed an increase in the number of settler attacks, as Palestinian farmers began the year’s olive harvest.
Attacks were mainly in the vicinity of the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank districts of Nablus, Salfit and Bethlehem.
The most devastating attack occurred on the morning of 16 October when more than 30 masked armed settlers charged at Palestinian farmers and international volunteers in Burin, attacking three internationals and seriously injuring one, including 80-year-old Rabbi Moshe Yehuda from the Rabbis for Human Rights organization.
Palestinians look forward to the annual olive harvest season, which is a major income source for thousands of Palestinian families in the West Bank.
In addition to stealing olive harvest from farmers, many areas planted with olive trees are closed to farmers due to their proximity to Jewish settlements or fall behind the Israeli apartheid wall.
Extremist Israeli settlers’ violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank, with over 600,000 colonists live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied West Bank in violation of international law.
In the town of Huwwara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, Ghassan Daghlas, a local monitor of settler violence, told WAFA that a group of colonists from the illegal Yitzhar settlement, threw rocks at farmers as they picked their olive harvest, injuring three of them.
Two of the injured were identified as Mayor of Huwwara Nasser al-Huwwari, and Deputy mayor Kamal Odeh.
At the same time, another group of settlers stole the olive harvest of Palestinian farmers near the village of Deir al-Hatab, to the east of Nablus city.
Daghlas confirmed that a number of Palestinian farmers entered their olive groves in the area of Ras Hazem, near the illegal settlement of Alon Moreh, but the Israeli settlers had stolen their harvest and destroyed some of the olive trees.
He condemned the settlers’ attacks against olive harvesters, which often occurs under the watch of Israeli soldiers, a policy in place not just to discourage Palestinians from tending to their farmlands, but to effectively force them to leave the area and give up on their land.
Over the past four weeks, the West Bank has witnessed an increase in the number of settler attacks, as Palestinian farmers began the year’s olive harvest.
Attacks were mainly in the vicinity of the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank districts of Nablus, Salfit and Bethlehem.
The most devastating attack occurred on the morning of 16 October when more than 30 masked armed settlers charged at Palestinian farmers and international volunteers in Burin, attacking three internationals and seriously injuring one, including 80-year-old Rabbi Moshe Yehuda from the Rabbis for Human Rights organization.
Palestinians look forward to the annual olive harvest season, which is a major income source for thousands of Palestinian families in the West Bank.
In addition to stealing olive harvest from farmers, many areas planted with olive trees are closed to farmers due to their proximity to Jewish settlements or fall behind the Israeli apartheid wall.
Extremist Israeli settlers’ violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank, with over 600,000 colonists live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied West Bank in violation of international law.
30 oct 2019

Israeli settlers on Wednesday stormed Palestinian groves and stole olives in Deir al-Hatab village east of Nablus City.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Daghlas said that the Palestinian farmers of Deir al-Hatab told him Israeli settlers destroyed dozens of olive trees and stole their crops.
He noted that settler attacks on the Palestinian citizens and their farmlands in the West Bank have been stepped up during the olive season.
Anti-settlement activist Ghassan Daghlas said that the Palestinian farmers of Deir al-Hatab told him Israeli settlers destroyed dozens of olive trees and stole their crops.
He noted that settler attacks on the Palestinian citizens and their farmlands in the West Bank have been stepped up during the olive season.
29 oct 2019

A horde of armed Jewish settlers on Monday afternoon assaulted Palestinian olive farmers in Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya city in the occupied West Bank, and expelled
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that settlers working as security guards at the illegal settlement of Kedumim assaulted Palestinian farmers as they were collecting olives from a grove in Kafr Qaddum town and forced them to leave the area.
The sources added that the settlers also ordered the farmers not to enter their agricultural lands at the pretext they are located near the settlement.
Local sources told a reporter for the Palestinian Information Center (PIC) that settlers working as security guards at the illegal settlement of Kedumim assaulted Palestinian farmers as they were collecting olives from a grove in Kafr Qaddum town and forced them to leave the area.
The sources added that the settlers also ordered the farmers not to enter their agricultural lands at the pretext they are located near the settlement.
27 oct 2019

Israeli occupation forces today prevented Palestinian farmers from accessing their own groves located on the other side of the Israeli segregation barrier near the central West Bank town of Salfit, local sources told WAFA.
Ibrahim Hamad, director of the Salfit Directorate of Agriculture, told WAFA that Israeli soldiers manning one of the barrier’s gates, denied farmers access to their own lands for the annual olive harvest.
The farmers had proper Israeli permits allowing them to cross through the gate, yet were still denied.
Israeli army also denied access of more farmers to their lands, behind the segregation barrier near the village of Mas’ha, west of Salfit.
Thousands of Palestinian families anxiously wait for the olive harvest season every year, which is often the main source of income for most families.
Ibrahim Hamad, director of the Salfit Directorate of Agriculture, told WAFA that Israeli soldiers manning one of the barrier’s gates, denied farmers access to their own lands for the annual olive harvest.
The farmers had proper Israeli permits allowing them to cross through the gate, yet were still denied.
Israeli army also denied access of more farmers to their lands, behind the segregation barrier near the village of Mas’ha, west of Salfit.
Thousands of Palestinian families anxiously wait for the olive harvest season every year, which is often the main source of income for most families.
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Palestinian, International and Israeli activists take part in a direct action inside an Israeli outpost in the Jordan Valley, West Bank, October 26, 2019. Israeli forces detained 34 people, among them 23 activists and 11 Palestinian journalists. video
Phones and cameras were confiscated from the Palestinian journalists. All detainees were released the same night except of one Palestinian that is still under arrest. |

Palestinian farmers reported that Jewish settlers from the illegal settlement of Itamar had stolen olives from their groves and caused damage to trees near the separation fence in the southeast of Nablus in the occupied West Bank.
Awarta town chief Saad Awwad said that several local farmers managed to enter the area behind the fence where their groves are located and were shocked to see that all the olive fruits had been removed from the trees.
Awwad added that branches of many trees had also been broken by settlers.
Awarta town chief Saad Awwad said that several local farmers managed to enter the area behind the fence where their groves are located and were shocked to see that all the olive fruits had been removed from the trees.
Awwad added that branches of many trees had also been broken by settlers.

A group of extremist Israeli colonists attacked, on Friday evening, a family and several international solidarity activists, on a Palestinian olive orchard in Kafr ed-Deek town, west of the central West Bank city of Salfit.
Palestinian farmer, Mohammad Taha, told the Maan News Agency that he, along with his wife and children and several international peace activists, were picking their olive trees in his orchard, when a number of colonists assaulted them.
Taha added that the assailants came from the illegal Bruchin colony, and assaulted him, his family and the international volunteers while shouting and cursing at them.
“This is our land, so we refused to leave, and we countered their invasion and aggression,” he said. “The Israeli assailants tried to strike us with clubs and batons, and attempted to prevent us from picking our olive trees.”
He also said that the colonists started harvesting some of the olive trees, and stole their produce, before they were stopped.
Taha stated that Israel has been trying to confiscate the remaining approximately 30 olive orchards in the area, and installed many surveillance cameras.
“Every time we enter our lands, the colonists attack or try to attack us,” he added, “But we are here to stay, steadfast on our lands and will not allow them to take them away.”
It is worth mentioning that Israel soldiers came to the lands shortly after the attack started but seemed to be there just to ensure no colonists are harmed, instead of removing them.
On Saturday, Israeli colonists chopped 25 olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers in the village of Nahhalin, east of Bethlehem in the West Bank.
On Wednesday, illegal colonists attack from Mabo Dothan outpost, which was built on Palestinian lands in Ya’bad town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, attacked many Palestinians picking olive trees in their orchards.
Several days ago, the colonists also invaded Palestinian orchards in Qaryout village, south Nablus, in northern West Bank, and forced the residents out, for the fourth consecutive day.
In addition, a group of colonists attacked Palestinian orchards near Salfit, before steeling ladders, olive picking equipment, and mattresses.
The attacks come while groups of illegal Israeli colonialist settlers continue to invade Palestinian olive orchards, cut trees and assault the villagers, in several parts of the occupied West Bank. These assaults and violations always escalate during the olive harvest season.
Palestinian farmer, Mohammad Taha, told the Maan News Agency that he, along with his wife and children and several international peace activists, were picking their olive trees in his orchard, when a number of colonists assaulted them.
Taha added that the assailants came from the illegal Bruchin colony, and assaulted him, his family and the international volunteers while shouting and cursing at them.
“This is our land, so we refused to leave, and we countered their invasion and aggression,” he said. “The Israeli assailants tried to strike us with clubs and batons, and attempted to prevent us from picking our olive trees.”
He also said that the colonists started harvesting some of the olive trees, and stole their produce, before they were stopped.
Taha stated that Israel has been trying to confiscate the remaining approximately 30 olive orchards in the area, and installed many surveillance cameras.
“Every time we enter our lands, the colonists attack or try to attack us,” he added, “But we are here to stay, steadfast on our lands and will not allow them to take them away.”
It is worth mentioning that Israel soldiers came to the lands shortly after the attack started but seemed to be there just to ensure no colonists are harmed, instead of removing them.
On Saturday, Israeli colonists chopped 25 olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers in the village of Nahhalin, east of Bethlehem in the West Bank.
On Wednesday, illegal colonists attack from Mabo Dothan outpost, which was built on Palestinian lands in Ya’bad town, west of the northern West Bank city of Jenin, attacked many Palestinians picking olive trees in their orchards.
Several days ago, the colonists also invaded Palestinian orchards in Qaryout village, south Nablus, in northern West Bank, and forced the residents out, for the fourth consecutive day.
In addition, a group of colonists attacked Palestinian orchards near Salfit, before steeling ladders, olive picking equipment, and mattresses.
The attacks come while groups of illegal Israeli colonialist settlers continue to invade Palestinian olive orchards, cut trees and assault the villagers, in several parts of the occupied West Bank. These assaults and violations always escalate during the olive harvest season.

Israeli settlers, Saturday, chopped 25 olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers in the village of Nahhalin, east of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, local sources told WAFA.
Hani Fannoun, head of Nahhalin municipality, said that the land belongs to two Palestinian villagers from Nahalin, located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Bat Ayin.
The attack came as Palestinian farmers are observing the annual olive harvest season, which is the main source of income for thousands of Palestinian families in the countryside of Palestine.
Settler violence is commonplace across the occupied West Bank, which mainly increases during the olive harvest season, and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities as the Palestinian Authority has no jurisdiction over Israeli settlers.
Hani Fannoun, head of Nahhalin municipality, said that the land belongs to two Palestinian villagers from Nahalin, located near the illegal Israeli settlement of Bat Ayin.
The attack came as Palestinian farmers are observing the annual olive harvest season, which is the main source of income for thousands of Palestinian families in the countryside of Palestine.
Settler violence is commonplace across the occupied West Bank, which mainly increases during the olive harvest season, and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities as the Palestinian Authority has no jurisdiction over Israeli settlers.