Olive Picking in Palestinian Land

Olive-picking time is time for us to show solidarity with our neighbors across the green line, who are under attack every year from Jewish extremists. We contacted the “coalition of olive pickers” for recommendations: Our aim was to bring families out to pick and to support Palestinian growers. Finding a location that would be safe for children turned out to be even more difficult than expected, but in the end, organizers Shireen and Samah settled on Deir Istiya, a village WASNS has been in contact with for years.

This village, near the settlements of Ariel, Barkan and Emmanuel, has lost much of its land to the settlers. What remains belongs to the families living there; they have difficulty getting workers to help pick crops in this location, under occupation. But the olive picking is proceeding without attacks.

Three families from WASNS made the trip, and they were joined there by other activists. We helped two families pick olives.

We will be going back this Saturday with more volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join.