Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinian Farmers Gathering Olive Harvest

17 October 2007

Nablus – Ma'an – Clashes erupted between Palestinian farmers and Israeli settlers on Wednesday morning near Elba checkpoint west of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

According to Palestinian sources, Israeli settlers obstructed Palestinian farmers in several areas of the district of Nablus on their way to collect the olive harvest.

A Palestinian farmer from the town of Awarta near Nablus, Abed Al-Salam Al-Jamal told Ma'an that settlers from Eytamar hurled stones at Palestinian families who were collecting olives in their fields near an Israeli outpost close to the area. The Palestinians responded by throwing stones at the settlers. Israeli military forces then intervened.

Another Palestinian farmer from the town of Azmut stated that Israeli settlers from Alon Moreh east of Nablus conducted "provocative attacks" against the farmers and that clashes had erupted near the town of Salem.