Holy Land: Diplomats and solidarity activists accompany farmers during olive harvest

Source: Pax Christi, LPJ, Washington Post

Diplomats from several countries along with dozens of French and American solidarity activists, accompanied Palestinian farmers in the West Bank town of Taybeh on Friday as they accessed their olive groves and harvested olives.

The diplomatic visit by Canadian Representative to the Palestinian Authority Graham Duttles and Finnish representative Tarja Kangaskorpi was coordinated with the Latin Patriarchate in Taybeh.

Father Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest, said the church works during the olive harvest season to help farmers reach their land, particularly in areas where access has become difficult or dangerous because of settlers, pastoral settlement outposts and repeated attacks.

He said the participation of diplomats and solidarity activists was intended to support residents in reaching their land and harvesting their crops safely.

While the diplomats and activists were harvesting olives in agricultural land east of Taybeh, a drone flew at low altitude over the group for about 15 minutes, according to photographic documentation by 'Holy Land Watcher' and journalists from the Nabd El-Haya media platform who were at the site.

Farmers in the area said the drone had been launched from a nearby location where settlers were present, but its operator could not be independently identified.

Photographs taken at the site showed settlers near the harvesting area, along with a vehicle, a four-wheeled vehicle and a herd of livestock. One vehicle remained parked on a nearby agricultural road while the drone was flying, while two settlers were tending the livestock in the surrounding area.

No direct attack on farmers was recorded in the area where the diplomats and activists were present, according to field monitoring. Farmers and local residents, however, reported incidents in other parts of Taybeh during the same period.

In agricultural areas west of the town, residents and farmers said settlers expelled workers from the nearby village of Deir Jarir who had been helping Taybeh landowners harvest olives under a local arrangement in which workers receive a share of the crop in return for their labour.

Farmers also reported that settlers attacked farmers in the Jabal al-Masis area and stole olives they had already collected. The details of both incidents could not be independently verified.

Field monitoring by 'Holy Land Watcher' and journalists at the site indicated a difference between areas where diplomats were present and those without a diplomatic presence. While settlers were observed near the harvesting area east of Taybeh during the diplomats' visit, farmers and residents reported incidents involving expulsion, pursuit, attacks and the theft of olives in other areas where no diplomatic presence was reported.

Diplomatic visits to agricultural land are coordinated in advance with the Israeli side regarding the areas where the delegations will be present. The distribution of incidents during the day raised questions about whether settlers were aware of which areas were covered by such coordination, although there was no independent evidence showing how they might have obtained such information.

The developments come as the Taybeh and area is subject to an Israeli military order issued on July 23, 2026, designating it as a closed military zone until July 4, 2027. The order restricts entry and residence without authorization, with exceptions specified in the order, including permanent residents and security forces. Despite the order, 'Holy Land Watcher' and journalists have documented the presence and movement of settlers on agricultural land around Taybeh during the olive harvest season.

The incidents come amid a broader increase in settler attacks on Palestinian farmers in the West Bank since October 2023.

In Taybeh, farmers, local sources and institutions say access to around 70% of agricultural land, particularly olive groves, has become extremely difficult or impossible in some areas because of the spread of pastoral settlement outposts and the presence of settlers around the town, as well as incidents involving attacks, intimidation and the theft of crops and agricultural equipment.

Since the start of the current olive harvest season, 'Holy Land Watcher' and local sources have documented several incidents that they say included preventing farmers from reaching their land, pursuing them and stealing harvested olives or olives from trees.

Taybeh, east of Ramallah, is the last entirely Christian Palestinian town in the West Bank. Its surrounding agricultural lands include extensive olive groves that provide an important source of income and form a central part of the community's connection to its land.

On Saturday, October 17, a group of diplomats from France, Belgium and Poland, along with representatives of the Catholic Church visiting Taybeh were attacked by masked Israeli settlers.

They smashed a window of a Belgian diplomatic vehicle and threatened members of the delegation.

Bernard Baudoux, 78-year-old mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, said he was kicked and beaten, despite wearing the ceremonial sash identifying him as a French official.

The French, Belgian and Polish government later reported that their diplomats were not seriously injured.

Elsewhere on Friday, in the village of Abu Falah, near Ramallah, masked settlers assaulted Palestinians harvesting olives and badly injured US photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was covering the farmers for The Washington Post. She suffered several broken ribs and cuts. Her camera, phone and passport were stolen.

On Sunday, Israeli settlers cut down 120 olive trees on Palestinian-owned land in the village of Kisan, southeast of Bethlehem, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The United Nations humanitarian office said last week that nearly 200 settler attacks linked to this year's harvest had caused casualties or property damage, already exceeding the 185 incidents recorded throughout last year's season.