In groves of several villages near Havat Gilad, an outpost of militant settlers southwest of Nablus, Palestinians out to harvest their olives have discovered tracts of trees picked clean, their fruit taken by vandals. In other locations, villagers have reported dozens of trees cut down, and hundreds more grazed by settlers' goats and stripped of leaves and fruit.
Following repeated assaults on harvesters in recent years, and after an Israeli Supreme Court ruling required the army to ensure that "every last olive" is picked, military authorities in the West Bank have developed an elaborate plan to protect Palestinians working in groves near Jewish settlements and outposts.
Dates and locations of work are coordinated with villagers, and border police and soldiers are posted in the areas to deter settlers and guard the harvesters.
Although access has improved at olive groves where settlers have kept Palestinians out, incidents of vandalism and theft persist.
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, director of Rabbis for Human Rights, an Israeli group that assists the Palestinian farmers, said the security forces were doing a better job of guarding harvesters but were failing to protect property and bring vandals to justice, a task which required more resources.
"As long as Israel is maintaining an occupation, it has got to bear the cost," Ascherman said. "It is legally obligated to protect the Palestinians, but the record of the security forces has not been adequate."
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