Rabbi permits settlers to take Palestinian olives in West Bank

Prominent Israeli rabbi Dov Lior issued a religious ruling on Friday permitting occupiers to take olives from Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. The decision arrives during a period of escalating violence against Palestinian farmers and their property throughout the region.

Lior argued that harvesting the crop demonstrates Jewish ownership of the land. He claimed Palestinians do not own their territory because they did not purchase it from the people of Israel. He described the land as stolen property under his interpretation of religious law.

The rabbi cited Jewish religious law to assert that ownership cannot be transferred through theft. Consequently, he stated that Palestinian land remains the property of the people of Israel. He further argued that planting olive trees does not grant Palestinians rights over the land.

Lior claimed Palestinians received sufficient compensation for planting trees by consuming fruit in previous years. He said both the land and current harvest should return to what he called rightful owners. This ruling applies to areas far from illegal settlements as well as nearby ones.

This decree comes as attacks on Palestinian farmers have intensified during the olive harvest season. Reports indicate increased assaults, prevention of access to land, and theft of crops by occupiers. Rights organizations accuse Israeli authorities of failing to stop this violence or hold perpetrators accountable.