Since early October, the olive harvest has been underway in the West Bank. Work is progressing very slowly, however, due to the closures and siege, while in some places, soldiers are keeping Palestinian farmers away from their own orchards. To add to this, groups of Israeli settlers have been attacking the villagers as they attempt to harvest. Numerous shooting incidents were reported, with many injured and one dead, in addition to beatings with rifle butts and rocks.

Tens of thousands of olive-planted dunam are in jeopardy, as they lie near Israeli settlements. If the harvest is not complete by mid-November, thousands of families will have lost their meager livelihood, and a critical food commodity for all West Bank residents will perish.

Several groups of Israelis have joined the olive harvest in recent days, serving as human shields against attacks by settlers and soldiers. These effective actions enabled some farmers to harvest their produce.

We invite you to join a large group of peace activists this Saturday, October 19th, to help harvest olives in several villages in the West Bank. We want to make it possible for Palestinians to harvest their olives in safety, and also to stir public opinion to push the government and army into allowing this harvest to take place unimpeded.

This action is the initiative of Israelis from many peace movements in cooperation with Palestinian friends. We have been endorsed by several peace organizations, and we expect the blessing of the entire movement.

This is a non-violent action. Participation is from age 18.

Bring with you: ID card, work clothes, hat, comfortable shoes, food and drink, camera, cell phone.

To confirm participation: Hava (03) 522-7124; Yaakov (09) 767-0801 or (050) 733-276; Amos (09) 952-3261