CMEP Bulletin
October 14, 2012
Violence Surrounds West Bank Olive Harvest
Start of Harvest Season Brings Violence
Further Reading
Beginning of Harvest Season Brings Violence
Every
autumn, Palestinian farmers harvest olives from the trees in their
groves, many of which go back decades. In recent years, these farmers
have faced settler violence and intimidation in order to pick their
olives, a crop that brought $100 million into the Palestinian economy in 2010 and sustains many families in the West Bank.
According to Rabbis for Human Rights,
“Every year at this time Palestinian farmers from a number of villages
across the West Bank receive threats to their safety, are denied access
to their land or have their olives stolen, their trees poisoned, or
even cut down altogether.” Last year, The UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that over 2,500 olive
trees were destroyed in September 2011, and 7,500 throughout 2011.
There
were several attacks believed to be carried out by settlers during this
first week of the harvest. Human rights groups are monitoring olive
groves near Israeli settlements and documenting attacks by settlers. So far, according to B’Tselem:
Between
October 7th and 10th, 2012, with the start of the West Bank's annual
olive harvest, B'Tselem has documented five cases of injury to
Palestinian farmers and their olive trees in the Ramallah and Nablus
regions. In two incidents, settlers attacked farmers picking olives and
damaged their yields. In three other cases, olive trees were discovered
damaged or with the olives stolen, apparently by settlers.
In
one incident B’Tselem documented, 220 trees were already harvested when
farmers arrived to their grove and many of them were damaged. The
perpetrators are unknown but B’Tselem points out that the owners of the
land cannot reach it without prior coordination with the army because
it is so close to an outpost. In al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah, a
farmer discovered 100 of his trees were damaged, most were cut down at
the trunk.
The
groups are concerned about the inaction of security forces in the areas
when these events occur. In B’Tselem’s roundup of the events, they note:
The
direct attacks documented by B'Tselem occurred while members of the
security forces were present. All the locations where damage to trees
was discovered are familiar to the security forces as areas where
Palestinians are subject to repeated harassment by settlers.
Not
only are the attacks not stopped but the criminal investigations rarely
find the perpetrator. Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group focusing
on legal action looked at the cases of tree vandalism over the past
seven years and only found one instance of an indictment
out of 162 cases. In the report they conclude that, “The police's
failure to enforce the law encourages such acts of vandalism, since the
perpetrators are not punished.”
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said there is an increased police presence in the West Bank and they are using more technology to stop these crimes.
Further Reading
Violence flared up between Israeli forces and Gaza militants
as they exchanged fire. Israeli forces conducted strikes against two
men they say are responsible for attacks, killing one and later
targeted two mosques and a factory that injured five. Israeli military
spokeswoman said the buildings were “Hamas posts” but did not
elaborate. Hamas joined the Islamic Jihad to launch 30 rockets towards
Israel that caused property damage but no casualties. Hamas’ inclusion
is noteworthy and Y’net explains why they joined in.
Israeli
Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor sent a letter to UN Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon and the president of the Security Council regarding their failure to condemn the rocket fire
from Gaza. He cited a double standard after the Security Council
condemned Syria hours after a Syrian missile exploded in Turkey last
week.
Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip for over 5 years has given his most detailed interview since his release one year ago in a prisoner exchange.
Human Rights Watch is calling on Hamas to make widespread reforms
after releasing a report accusing Hamas of arbitrary arrests and
executing people over confessions extracted under torture in Gaza.
READ MORE
With the campaign season in full swing you have an opportuity to
raise your concern for peace in the Holy Land in campaign-related ways.
Incumbents and challengers are spending their time on the campaign trail
talking with constituents like you.
Asking questions now, when
candidates are asking for your vote, can influence their actions when
they come to Washington. In town hall meetings, meet and greets,
letters-to-the editor and through individual correspondence you can let
your candidates know your concerns about the the role of the U.S. in
ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since many candidates are
active on Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media, and their
campaigns monitor these sites closely, post one of these questions on
your candidates’ pages.
Here are questions you may ask to find out more about their positions.
Click here to download a copy of these questions.
1.
As a Christian and supporter of Churches for Middle East Peace, I am
concerned about the conflict in the Holy Land. What steps do you believe
the U.S. government should take to encourage and support diplomacy
between Israelis and Palestinians in order to find a peaceful and
lasting resolution to the conflict that respects the rights and security
of both peoples?
2. As a Christian and supporter of Churches for
Middle East Peace, I am concerned about the continuing growth of Israeli
settlements in the Palestinian Territories and the future of a
two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. U.S. administrations,
both Democratic and Republican, have endorsed a two-state solution. Do
you support an Israeli and Palestinian state living side by side in
peace and security and what steps should the United States government be
willing to take to ensure a two-state solution is achieved?
3. As
a Christian and supporter of Churches for Middle East Peace, I am
concerned about the uncertainty of U.S. aid to Palestinians in the
budget and how some lawmakers want to use the funds to score political
points. Last year, several politicians supported cutting this funding
for humanitarian aid, development and security to punish the
Palestinians for pursuing recognition in the United Nations. Do you
support continued aid to Palestinians at reasonable levels and what
conditions do you think are appropriate to maintain aid to Palestinians
in future budgets?
4. As a Christian and supporter of Churches for
Middle East Peace, I am concerned about the status of Jerusalem, a holy
site to Christians, Jews and Muslims. No country, including the U.S.,
has recognized Israel’s 1967 annexation of East Jerusalem and
Palestinians insist that it must be the capital of their future state.
U.S. administrations for decades have supported leaving Jerusalem as an
issue for the parties to decide in final status negotiations and have
avoided taking actions that may prejudice an outcome. Will you support
the continuation of this policy and oppose unilateral provocative
actions, such as moving the U.S. embassy, which will interfere with
negotiations?
Please keep CMEP informed of your efforts to learn the positions of candidates in your area. Email Alex Stevens at
alex(at)cmep.org or call (202) 543-1222.
Thank you for raising the issue of peace in the Holy Land with your candidates.
