Israel bulldozes olive groves in West Bank village weeks before harvest
Army bulldozers uprooted olive trees near Ramallah in Deir Nidham as Palestinian farmers prepared for the October harvest.
What to know
- Israeli army bulldozers destroyed olive groves in Deir Nidham, near Ramallah, over two days just weeks before the October harvest.
- Farmers say the timing was deliberate, aimed at maximizing economic damage; one family reported losing land that normally yields about 120 drums of olive oil annually.
- Israel's military had not responded to Reuters' request for comment as of Wednesday evening; it has previously cited security concerns to justify clearing olive trees, a rationale Palestinian rights groups dispute.
- The PA reports Israeli attacks on farmland affected over 21,500 trees in August alone, amid estimates that this year's olive production will exceed local demand.
Abd Alfattah Tamimi Palestinian farmer and landownerNather Tamimi Palestinian farmerIsraeli army Military force conducting the demolitionPalestinian Authority's Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission PA body tracking land destruction
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Al Jazeera/Reuters detail farmers' losses and the timing's impact
Farmer Abd Alfattah Tamimi said the army destroyed olive trees on his family's land and his neighbours', while Nather Tamimi said his family typically produces about 120 drums of olive oil a year from the land now destroyed; he said the timing was designed to inflict maximum damage ahead of the harvest, which traditionally begins in October.
“They don't care about anyone, but God is up there, and we are steadfast here with our souls. They are uprooting, and we will plant again with the help of God…”
— Abd Alfattah Tamimi -
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Israeli bulldozers uprooted olive groves near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank weeks before the annual harvest. "Israeli army bulldozers have ploughed through rows of olive trees in a village near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, just as Palestinian farmers were preparing to begin their annual harvest, residents told the Reuters news agency…
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Israeli military does not respond to comment request
Israel's military told Reuters it was checking the request for comment on the demolition but had not responded by Wednesday evening.
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background
Demolition continues into a second day, hitting trees near homes — The uprooting continued on Tuesday; farmer Nather Tamimi said the army "uprooted all kinds of trees even from between the houses."
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background
Army bulldozers begin uprooting olive trees in Deir Nidham — Israeli army bulldozers started demolishing rows of olive trees in the village of Deir Nidham near Ramallah, according to residents and the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
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background
PA commission tallies August damage to Palestinian farmland — The Palestinian Authority's Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said Israeli attacks on agricultural land in August affected 21,508 trees, including 19,375 olive trees, and estimated this year's olive production at 21,000 tonnes against local demand of about 15,000 tonnes.
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first by Mastodon, 4h ago · also Al Jazeera