In brief
Over a dozen former Israeli generals moonlit the olive fields in Qusra, West Bank, on Tuesday, harvesting the fruit of solidarity as settler violence surged. Criticizing the attacks as pogroms, they warned of the damage to Israel’s reputation and called for a reckoning with occupation. Palestinian farmers point to a lack of protection from the Israeli army amid increasing assaults.
In the olive‑laden hills of Qusra, in the occupied West Bank, a group of former Israeli generals gathered on Tuesday to help local Palestinian farmers harvest their crop. The operation came as reports of militant settler violence against villagers had both climbed and complicated the fragile daily rhythm of the area.
The group—about 30 senior Israeli officials, six of whom held the rank of general—had been organized by Major General Eyal Ben‑Reuven months earlier. Their goal, according to Reuters, was to counter what they described as a growing wave of attacks that many Palestinians say the Israeli military has failed to curb.
When I see what is going on here, when I see these guys come… and hit women and kids, it reminds me of stories from my parents from the time when the Jewish people suffered,
said former Major General Ben‑Reuven, comparing the settler assaults to pogroms in the words of a former military leader.
Meanwhile, former Colonel Doron Meinert, a veteran who now volunteers in the West Bank, said the endurance of occupation was the core of the problem. “Occupation is the main problem of Israeli society. I believe we must deal with it, we cannot ignore it. We must try to solve it together with the Palestinians,” he said, according to Reuters.
Former Brigadier General Jonatan Yoni voiced a parallel concern about Israel’s global stance. “Strategically, tactically, it’s creating problems for the state of Israel in the West and the United States,” Yoni said, noting that settler violence threatened the country’s international reputation.
Reports by the Israeli rights group Yesh Din have recorded 180 physical attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters over the 35 days since the season began. Yesh Din documents that Israel’s own military was present in more than 23% of the captured incidents, a statistic that Palestinians say underscores the army’s inadequate protection.
Owner of land near the village of Qusra, Nimr Nazzal, said that without the help of the ex‑generals he could not reach his olive trees because of settler attacks. He accused the Israeli army of protecting the settlers, stating,
The army is protecting the settlers.
The Israeli military has denied such claims, insisting that it condemns violence and operates to maintain security in the West Bank.
Local Palestinian farmers call the military’s response as either delayed or biased toward supporting the perpetrators. Their frustration grew as more villagers reported that when they called for help, the Israeli army would either arrive too late or intervene on the attackers’ behalf.
These hands‑on gestures by former Israeli officials signal an uncommon split within the nation’s security establishment. By aiding olives under a flag of solidarity, they challenge the narrative that the military protects all occupied settlements, and they insist that governance of the West Bank must include scrutiny of settler conduct and direct support for Palestinian communities.
