Rabbis for Human Rights defend Palestinian olive harvest

Photo by Gray Clary on Unsplash

Source: Rabbis for Human Rights

Rabbis for Human Rights report: Settler violence across the West Bank continues to escalate, with Palestinian communities facing increasing threats to their land, livelihoods, and safety. This year, the stakes are higher than ever.

The 2024 olive harvest was among the hardest in recent memory. According to OCHA, over 1,400 settler-related attacks took place during the harvest period, causing injuries, property destruction, and widespread intimidation.

Thousands of olive trees were destroyed. At the same time, legislation advancing the annexation of the West Bank created a political window for further structural changes on the ground, while international attention was largely focused on Gaza.

For Palestinian communities, the olive harvest is not only a vital economic season but also a practice deeply rooted in history, culture, and community. Protecting it is essential.

Rabbis for Human Rights brings hundreds of volunteers each year to work shoulder to shoulder with Palestinian farmers. In the coming harvest, our teams will be in the field six days a week, assisting with harvesting, providing a protective presence, and documenting violations of human rights. Our presence is a crucial act of resistance - a lifeline that enables families to remain on their land, care for their olive trees, and sustain agricultural livelihoods.

Last year, over 1,000 volunteers joined us across more than 30 villages. This year, we aim to expand further - bringing even more hands into the field and standing with more communities than ever before.

We cannot do this without your support. Your donation ensures more volunteers in the field, more protection for Palestinian farmers, and more Jewish-Palestinian partnerships forged in solidarity. The donations will go towards the cost of transportation, emergency first aid materials, harvesting tools, and trainings in the run up to the harvest.

This year, every contribution matters. Help us reach our goal of $70,000 to make the 2025 harvest a success and ensure these communities can harvest their crop and remain steadfast on their land.

Together, we can defend the harvest, uphold justice, and strengthen solidarity.

To donate to the work of RHR see: https://causematch.com/defendtheharvest/donate/

Watch the latest RHR video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fysi90bj8KM&t=5s