CPTnet
29 October 2007
AT-TUWANI: Harvesting olives in the South Hebron Hills

by Laura Ciaghi and Sean O'Neill

This past weekend, Palestinians from Yatta, Susiya and At Tuwani
successfully harvested olives in the South Hebron Hills area. Palestinian
families, helped by well over a hundred Israeli and international
volunteers, fanned out to olive groves across the area--some abutting a
military base and settlement outposts--in order to harvest olives, a pillar
of the local and the national economy.

The harvest went on without interference from Israelis in the nearby
settlements and outposts of Susya and Ma'on, known for their violent attacks
on farmers and shepherds. The Israeli army and police never interfered with
the farmers' work and on one occasion were present to prevent possible
settler disturbances of the harvesting.

The village of Susiya has suffered from several evictions and home
demolitions by the Israeli military in the last twenty years. Originally,
these actions were carried out on the basis that the village is on an
archeological site and next to a national park. The Israeli army executed
further demolition orders due to settlers' claims that the Palestinian homes
were too close to the settlement located on the same land. On 6 June 2007,
the Israeli high court removed the temporary injunction on further
demolitions or evacuations in place since 2001, and ordered the Israeli
Civil Administration to make a decision on whether villagers can remain on
their land and build permanent housing. Otherwise, the Israeli military
will evict the remaining families and demolish any structures.

Currently, around thirty-five villagers of Susiya are still living in tent
dwellings surrounded by the Israeli settlement of Susya, three outposts and
a military base and face ongoing harassment by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli high court clearly affirmed the right of Palestinian families to
access their land in June 2006. Following a petition, the high court stated
that Palestinians have the right to access their land without added permits
or requests and that the Israeli army and police are obligated to protect
farmers and their property from attack.

(For backgrounds about Susiya see 21 June 2007 CPTnet release, "SOUTH HEBRON
HILLS: Palestinians from Susiya face threat of eviction for fifth time,
" and 14 July 2007 release, "SUSIYA (SOUTH HEBRON HILLS): Palestinians,
Israelis, and internationals show solidarity with Susiya village."

Photos from the 2007 olive harvesting season where internationals and
Israelis accompanied Palestinians from the villages of At-Tuwani, Susiya and
Yatta are available in the CPT At-Tuwani photo albums at:
http://www.cpt.org/gallery/olive-harvest-2007.