Israel Deports 32 Foreign Activists Supporting Palestinian Olive Harvest

On October 19, 2023, Israeli authorities deported 32 foreign activists who were assisting Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest in the West Bank. The deportation was executed following a complaint from Yossi Dagan, the head of the Samaria Regional Council, who labeled the activists as “anarchists” involved in provocations in the region. The activists were arrested in an olive grove near Nablus and held for 72 hours before their expulsion. They have been banned from re-entering Israel for 99 years.

Times of Israel

The Israeli Interior Minister, Yariv Levin, and National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, stated that the deportation was based on suspicions of the activists' affiliation with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), a Palestinian non-governmental organization that supports farmers. The UAWC was designated a terrorist organization by Israel in 2021 due to alleged ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The activists were accused of violating a military commander’s order by entering a closed military zone.

TRT World

This year’s olive harvest season has been marked by significant violence, with reports of over 150 attacks on Palestinian farmers by Israeli settlers. According to Mu’ayyad Shaaban, head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, these incidents include physical assaults, property damage, and intimidation, particularly in Nablus, Ramallah, and Hebron. The presence of foreign activists is often seen as a deterrent to such violence, as they aim to monitor and support Palestinian farmers during the harvest.

Middle East Monitor

The Palestinian Authority condemned the deportations, labeling them a violation of international law and an infringement on human rights. Fuad Abu Seif, a researcher at UAWC, clarified that while the UAWC is part of a broader campaign organized by various Palestinian NGOs and the Ministry of Agriculture, it did not organize the specific activities the activists were involved in. The Palestinian foreign ministry emphasized that such actions threaten the principles of justice and human rights.

Middle East Monitor

Critics of the deportation, including Lea Tsemel, a lawyer for the activists, argued that the activists were unaware of the closed military zone order and were unjustly detained under harsh conditions. Tsemel noted that the activists were not brought before a judge during their detention, raising concerns about due process. The Israeli government, however, maintains that the operation sends a clear message against violations of state sovereignty and support for terrorism.

Times of Israel

There are discrepancies regarding the specific nature of the activists' actions and the legal basis for their deportation. While Israeli officials claim the activists staged an illegal demonstration, Tsemel contests that no such protest occurred. Additionally, questions remain about how the activists were allowed entry into Israel if they were already associated with a designated terrorist organization.

Times of Israel

• “were never brought before a judge” — Rudy Schulkind, deported activist

• “The occupying state continues its attempts to disrupt the Palestinian way of life, which is historically tied to the land,” — Mu’ayyad Shaaban, head of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission

• “delivers a clear message that there will be zero tolerance for violating the sovereignty of the state, incitement to terrorism, and support for it,” — Yariv Levin, Israeli Interior Minister

Times of Israel