I went harvesting olives yesterday Thursday, October 17th. This is not some Middle Eastern pastoral equivalent to apple-picking in the fall.

The time has come to harvest olive trees and when Palestinian farmers have been trying to do so they have been harrassed by some nearby settlers. An article by Gideon Levy in Ha’aretz from earlier this month called “Bitter Harvest” describes. According to news reports some settlers have been stealing olives and attacking farmers in a number of locations, with one murdered so far. Yossi Sarid the leader of the opposition in the government wrote a scathing op-ed entitled “Greater Sodom and its daughters.”

Rabbis for Human Rights, a pretty amazing group – everything Judaism should ideally be about, sent out a call for action. Whoever could clear their schedule was asked to join the farmers of Yasuf at 7.00 am. The goal was for Israelis and other international activists to run interference so the farmers could harvest. I woke up at 4.40, took a cab to Ra’anana from Tel Aviv where I got a ride to the gas station at Kufr Kassem where a mini bus took those who had arrived to help. Breakfast was shakshuka (an egg and tomato dish) in a pita (bread pocket) with some hummus (spread made out of chickpeas) at about 6.00 am from a falafel (fried balls made out of chickpeas and spices) stand near the gas station that caters to early rising workers.

There weren’t very many of us. There were a couple of reporters, an independent filmmaker, and a few Israelis.
There was also Diamond the dog, very friendly, and an old hand at activism. We rode from Kufr Kassem to near the village of Yasuf. There was no checkpoint, however there was a road block. The difference being a road block is unmanned. So the mini bus was left near it and we continued on foot. In the distance we could make out a pretty inspiring sight. In the last few days small numbers of farmers had come out. On this day about 300 showed up with donkeys or mules (not really sure what the difference is) to carry loads, men and women (no children), waiting for us to take part in this non-violent action.

As we were walking towards the farmers we were met by Angie Zeltser from the International Women’s Peace Service – Palestine (She is mentioned in the Gideon Levy article “Bitter Harvest” – see above.). She explained that the farmers had gotten official permission to harvest and the IDF – Israel Defense Forces had promised to be there. She pointed out what an amazing sight it was for all these villagers to have come to harvest. The course of action was to be as follows. One representative was chosen from the Israelis to be the Hebrew language spokesperson for the group. The mayor of the village was the Arab spokesperson. Angie was to be the English spokesperson representing the international group. Israelis were to split into groups of no less than two. We weren’t that many so this meant very few groups as the reporters didn’t count. We were to walk around and stay alert for trouble. If anything violent would happen it was agreed among the villagers that they would sit down. The Israelis were then supposed to attempt to be on the outside perimeter.

As we were talking, a settler came by in his truck. He asked what was going on. Our Israeli spokesperson went over to him and explained we were there for a peaceful harvest and that all necessary authorizations had been obtained. The settler responded that this was a long-standing contested issue – that the settlers maintain that these are people that harbor terrorists and who want to kill them [the settlers/Jews] and so should not be allowed to harvest their olives. An Israeli (not the spokesperson) decided to get involved – and asked dramatically – what gives you the right to steal their olives? Does that give you the right to steal their olives? It was not helpful and the response I believe was a somewhat muffled yes.

More settlers showed up. They came with rifles. One man came on a cart with four German shepherds wearing a Kahane (1, 2) t-shirt. Some wore tefillin while holding their rifles. This looked extremely bizarre. Although the English word phylacteries comes from a word meaning safeguard or amulet – and I guess they were being worn as protective gear. Mostly I have seen these only during prayer services and this was far from it. Then we heard there was trouble.

Someone said there had been shots fired. I can’t confirm this. We were told to go and find the problems and keep an eye on them. I ran with the Israeli I was teamed up with. This was on a hill so we could see a settler below pointing a gun at some farmers. The person I was with yelled “Torid et Haneshek” – Put down your weapon. Twice. I did as well once. We started running towards him. He had begun throwing rocks. We got pretty close to him. He threw some rocks at us. And threatened to kill us if we touched his weapon. Mostly this was a very scared man – who didn’t want to hurt anyone and just wanted us to leave. He calmed down eventually. We followed him and other settlers and just kept a watch on them.

We heard the same things over and over from the settlers. You’re here with our enemies. Traitors. Jewish antisemites. They don’t want peace. They don’t want us to be here. We were shot at two weeks ago and the more personal I was shot at. I just want to protect my family – my wife and kids who are scared to travel in the area. Some of the settlers tried to break cameras that were filming. Some were dressed in outfits similar to soldiers so for the uninitiated it took a few minutes to distinguish the difference.

And then there was my favorite, dubbed by the internationals as “Brooklyn” – a settler from my hometown. A young guy wearing a t-shirt in Hebrew that said “I only buy from Jews.” He threatened everyone. I’ll fuckin’ kill you. And other assorted trash talk. All I could think was – couldn’t you have become some disaffected youth in to thrash metal in a black t-shirt with skulls or something? It was a bit less funny when he pulled a knife on someone.

In case you’re wondering where the soldiers were in all of this…there just weren’t all that many of them at first and they were powerless. They asked us to move up the hill and sit down until more soldiers arrived. Also that they couldn’t arrest anyone – only the police could do that so we would have to wait until they arrive for the criminal acts that had already occurred. So there were a few settlers with assorted guns standing. A few soldiers watching them. And a few Israelis and internationals amid a large group of Palestinian farmers sitting down. From what I understand there was another location with exactly the same situation.

This is long but I still feel like I’m painting with broad strokes. I don’t want whoever reads this to think of the settlers as one monolithic group. Some of the settlers seemed to get off on violence. The man who had earlier thrown the rocks seemed genuinely scared. While we were sitting he yelled at his fellow settlers for not staying alert and watching the sitting farmers who in his mind could pull out a weapon at any second. There were some who were there because it was just the place to be in a pretty relaxed and casual way.

As for the activists. Some are unbelievably impressive in the calm they display in the face of threats. And some seem incredibly naive and not all that bright saying things like “I’m everybody’s friend.” or “Peace man” to people in an agitated state who believe that their lives are in danger. And some also get off on the violence and an exaggerated sense of purpose and meaning.

Back to the story – one soldier was chitchatting with an international about which beaches he should visit. Some farmers found it a bit ridiculous. Settlers complained that the soldiers should be watching the Palestinians and not them. One soldier responded to a threatening settler that he shouldn’t mess with him because he (the soldier) is connected to a well-known crime family. One soldier said to one of the religious looking settlers that what he was doing was hilul hashem (a desecration of god) – had he heard of it?

One settler spoke into his walkie talkie to someone back at the settlement (I guess) who asked what was going on. He told him – well there are a bunch of Palestinians who say they have permission to harvest. The soldiers have confirmed that but because we’re here they’re sitting. The one back home asked – well if they have permission why aren’t they harvesting? what do they care if you’re there?. I could’t resist and I told the settler – if he wants to know it’s because you guys have threatened us and thrown rocks and it was deemed unsafe. This was translated to the person back home as “They claim…”

Eventually more soldiers arrived. The police too. I did not see the police but from what I understand five people were arrested. As for the soldiers’ attitudes – I think it was summed up by the obese commanding officer speaking into his communication device – (a rough translation) I’m in shit with crazy settlers, the Palestinians and the worst of the peace makers. Pretty much as far as they’re concerned everyone they have to deal with in this quagmire is miserable.

The other settlers went away. And then after some hours we finally got down to what we had come to do. We harvested olives. Tarps are spread out under the tree. Olives are picked off of the tree and allowed to fall on the tarps to be gathered later into sacks. There were ladders for the upper parts of the trees and olive trees are ridiculously easy to climb so you had people in the tree, on ladders and on the ground. Sometimes one of the men would sing from the top of a tree – I was told he was singing about the land being Palestinian.

I ended up working with one family. With a few words of Arabic, some broken English and the occasional Hebrew we got along fine – with a lot of smiles. There were young married women in their 20s with five children. They expressed sympathy for me because I had come with short sleeves and had gotten my arms all scratched up. It’ll heal, besides I would have been miserably warm in jeans, a long dress and head covering. The funny part was their outfits in concept were not so different from the outfits being worn by settler women.

In the middle of the day it was time for lunch. A large amount of food was brought out. Pitas, hummus and other spreads, vegetables, cheeses, fish and meat and tea. Some of the women picked fresh za’atar which has a really strong and pleasant smell. They told me it can be put in tea for the aroma.

We continued to work. The older mothers with their wide bodies were the most industrious of all and chided their daughters for not being as thorough. You didn’t need to understand the language to get it.

At about three it was time to leave. As we were leaving some settlers returned to make sure everyone was going. The group I was with stayed to make sure that everyone would be able to leave safely. There were a few additional Israelis who had arrived in the middle of the day. The reporters had left early. Someone said they thought they heard a gun shot from the direction of the settlement – I didn’t hear it.

People were asked to stay in the village for the following morning’s harvest. Also anyone with video footage of settlers was asked to share it. The following day, Friday, I had to be in at work and didn’t stay. It was also a bit odd – those who stayed could get a ride back into a city via a settler bus.

In the end we saw that many sacks of olives had been harvested. Many of the families’ livelihoods depend on this. It was useful for us to come out. Ultimately I don’t know how much good it does.

This day did not even make in to the papers. This was just a normal everyday sort of thing. No one was too seriously hurt. Life goes on. The settlers cannot look and see peaceful farmers. And the Palestinians can’t see a better future past the bearded men with rifles.

I came away with some sore muscles, a minor sprained ankle, some scratches and a renewed sense of how awful things are 45 minutes away from where I’m living.

Originally posted in 2002 on terrortubby dot 0catch dot com [do not recommend going to the link -  lots of popups!]

It looked like this on the original site:

I took photos of the actual harvesting (not the tension) with a crappy disposable camera.

I also had a list of links related to the Olive Harvest story on the original website. I’ve updated links where possible and removed the ones that don’t go anywhere.

Settlers attack Palestinian olive harvesters, kill one
By Arnon Regular, Amos Harel, Baruch Kra in Ha’aretz. The article that brought the issue to my attention

Twilight Zone: Bitter Harvest
By Gideon Levy in Ha’aretz.

Greater Sodom and its daughters
By Yossi Sarid in Ha’aretz (op-ed). He is the leader of the opposition in the Israeli government.

Settlers attack olive pickers
By Amos Harel and Arnon Regular in Ha’aretz. I was told by Arik Ascherman of Rabbis for Human Rights that there is an inaccuracy in the article. There were actually about 300 Israeli activists and not the “dozens” mentioned.

Cartoon
By Geva in Ha’aretz.

It’s the Pits – Humiliated farmers, angry landowners, human rights activists and army personnel: A confrontation in an olive grove
By Amira Hass in Ha’aretz.

Settlers injure five in attack on olive pickers
By Arnon Regular in Ha’aretz.

Activists heading to West Bank to support Palestinians during olive harvest
By Malcolm Foster for Associated Press. Via Google.

Olive harvest intensifies conflict
By Peter Hermann in The Baltimore Sun. Via Google.

Settlers defying Israeli law
By Charles A. Radin in The Boston Globe. Via Google.

Olive branch a symbol of strife
By Ben Wedeman on CNN.com. Via Google.

Peace hopes wilt among the olive branches
By Chris McGreal in Guardian, UK. Via Google.

Israeli injured when settlers fire at Israeli and Palestinian olive pickers
By Tovah Lazaroff in Jerusalem Post.

Police question Israeli in West Bank for slaying of Palestinian farmer
By Margot Dudkevitch in Jerusalem Post.

This Year’s Palestinian Olive Crop is Stained by Blood
In The Palestine Chronicle. Via Google.

Families fear bitter harvest
By Jessica McCallin in Sunday Herald, UK. Via Google.