Palestinian Olive harvesters must now apply for permits before accessing OWN land

Maan
Israeli forces prevented farmers from reaching their lands to harvest olives in Wadi Ahmed west of Beit Jala on Wednesday.

Olive harvesters said they went to their lands in the morning but were surprised to find Israeli forces had but large gates and barbed wires across the entrances to the land. On further inquiry soldiers told the group they were prohibited from accessing the land because they did not have proper permits to do so.

The land owners were accompanied by internationals in an effort to ward off attacks by soldier and settlers, but despite their presence soldiers refused the group access to the land. When owners and internationals requested documentation on the permit status of the land, they said soldiers screamed at them, using abusive words, and told them there ‘were no crops on the trees anyways this year,’ witnesses said.

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