The Olive Harvest
The olive harvest has begun. The olive presses, where farmers take their olives to press into oil, will run until the middle of November. But many villagers in Jayyus and other parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory cannot reach their lands and olive groves. They require permits from the Israeli military, and many have not received them.
Here's who to write to:
Benjamin Netanyahu
Office of the Prime Minister
3 Kaplan St.
Hakirya
Jerusalem 91950
Israel
E-mail: bnetanyahu@knesset.gov.il
Fax: 011-972-2-566-4838 or 011-972-2-649-6659
Her Excellency Miriam Ziv
Ambassador for Israel
50 O'Connor St., Suite 1005
Ottawa, ON K1P 6L2
E-mail: info@ottawa.mfa.gov.il
Fax: 613-567-9878
Here's what to say:
The olive harvest is well under way and olive presses are operating. But many farmers in the Palestinian territory are unable to harvest their olives because they require permits to reach their olive groves and they do not have them.
In the village of Jayyus, as of late summer only 180 people had been granted permits to access their lands, and the vast majority are restricted. In the period from November 2010 until July 2011, only 255 permits were granted out of 494 applications submitted by the Jayyus municipality.
The olive harvest is vital to the livelihoods of farmers and their families in the Palestinian territory. Israel has an obligation to allow the farmers access to their lands.