Hardline rabbi: Jews can take Palestinian olives to ‘demonstrate our ownership of the land’

Hardline Rabbi Dov Lior issued a halachic ruling on Friday stating Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian lands to demonstrate ownership. Tzohar, a group of moderate rabbis, condemned the ruling, calling theft forbidden from anyone. The annual olive harvest is a flashpoint for settler violence.

Hardline Rabbi Dov Lior, the former chief rabbi of Kiryat Arba, issued a halachic ruling on Friday stating that Jews are permitted to harvest olives from Palestinian lands in the West Bank. The ruling argues that the land was never purchased by Arabs and therefore remains under Jewish ownership, and that harvesting olives in areas far from Jewish communities fulfills the commandment to conquer the land. Tzohar, a group of moderate religious Zionist rabbis, condemned the ruling, stating that theft is forbidden from anyone, Jew or non-Jew alike, and that individuals cannot confiscate property for security purposes. The annual olive harvest is a flashpoint for violence, with extremist settlers often attacking Palestinian harvesters. Israel faces growing international criticism over settler violence, which the government has downplayed. The IDF also faces criticism for not intervening. The article includes a fundraising appeal for The Times of Israel.