UN rapporteurs: Israel must prevent settler attacks on Palestinians

New York - Ma'an - UN rapporteurs called on Israel to stop attacks by settlers who have usurped Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, against Palestinian farmers. Palestinian farmers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank are facing their most dangerous olive harvest ever, the rapporteurs said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement added, "Israel must stop these violent attacks that threaten the olive harvest season." The statement stressed that the intimidation of Palestinian farmers, restricting their access to their lands, and attacks on them undermine the ability of Palestinian families to secure their food needs. The statement pointed out that the settlers' attacks on Palestinian farmers constitute another threat to the Palestinians' right to self-determination. The statement also said: 'Olive harvesting is essential to Palestinian life and culture. The Palestinian people's relationship with olive trees, which can live for hundreds of years, is like their relationship with their ancestors and their future.' He added: "Restricting the olive harvest, destroying orchards and preventing access to water sources is illegal and an attempt to expand colonialism." With the onset of the olive harvest season, the frequency of attacks carried out by settlers under the protection of the occupation forces against citizens has increased, which included forcing farmers to leave their lands at gunpoint, stealing their crops, and cutting down olive trees. Source: Maan News Agency