West Bank olive groves seized with army help, witnesses say

Israeli soldiers backed settlers who seized Palestinian olive groves at the start of the harvest season in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, witnesses and medics said, with injuries reported in several places.

Near Beita in the northern West Bank, Palestinians began harvesting olives in the morning before settlers confronted them, witnesses said. The settlers briefly backed down when faced by farmers and visiting solidarity activists, including some Israelis, before soldiers moved in and forced the farmers and activists to run, witnesses said.

An AFP journalist saw soldiers detain several Palestinians, including one who could be heard screaming inside a military jeep. The Israeli army also detained six journalists, including one from AFP, and released them about 20 minutes later without charge.

Farmer Mohammed Hamayel told AFP that the army's aim was to clear the area for settlers so they could harvest the olives. “This is our land and, God willing, we will remain steadfast,” he said.

Elsewhere in the northern West Bank, an AFP journalist saw Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian farmers in olive groves, setting dry fields on fire. Farmers and firefighters worked to put out the fires.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society said 12 Palestinians were taken to hospital after being beaten by settlers in five separate incidents Saturday.

Palestinian officials said settlers had killed one Palestinian on Thursday and another on Friday. Violence in the West Bank has drawn international concern, including recent British-led sanctions on products from Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed some incidents on a small number of people he called juvenile delinquents.

Violence has also affected Israelis, with a Palestinian shooting dead a settler in September.