Uprooting trees and people: Just before the harvest, Palestinian agriculture in the West Bank is being destroyed

Oded Shalom's report describes the gradual takeover of Palestinian agricultural lands by farms and outposts in Judea and Samaria, just before the olive harvest season. The report presents harsh testimonies from farmers about the uprooting of thousands of olive trees, denial of access to orchards, and violence by settlers, leading to the economic collapse of villages. Official data shows a dramatic drop in olive oil production, from 32,000 tons in 2022 to just 7,000 in 2025.

Oded Shalom's report on ynet reveals the systematic destruction of Palestinian agriculture in Judea and Samaria, just before the olive harvest season that should be the peak of the agricultural year. The report describes how illegal farms and outposts have taken over about one million dunams of grazing and agricultural land, uprooting thousands of olive trees and preventing Palestinian farmers from accessing their orchards. Muhammad Adiliya from the village of Usarin describes how he saw bulldozers working in the dark, uprooting centuries-old trees. Muhammad Sha'ban from Halhul says: "We lost 70 percent of our annual income, they took everything from us." Official data illustrates the economic catastrophe: olive oil production plummeted from 32,000 tons in 2022 to just 7,000 tons in 2025—a 75 percent drop. According to OCHA, during the previous harvest season, about 6,000 olive trees were uprooted by settlers, with 178 documented attacks in October-November 2025. From the beginning of 2026 to the end of June, 15,534 olive trees were uprooted. The head of the Al-Mughayyir village council says that out of 43,000 dunams cultivated three years ago, only 900 remain. The report also notes the broader economic impact: the ban on Palestinian workers entering Israel since October 2023 and the freezing of clearance revenues by Finance Minister Smotrich have led to a collapse in Palestinian incomes.