The Israel Defense Forces announced a new closed military zone around the Palestinian village of Burin in the West Bank on Friday, shortly before hundreds of left-wing activists and volunteers were due to arrive to assist Palestinians with their olive harvest.

The visit had been planned as part of a broad effort to help Palestinians safely harvest their olives against the backdrop of repeated violence against the harvesters at the hands of extremist Israelis.

The blockade of the activists came amid accusations that the security forces have repeatedly failed to stop extremist settlers from carrying out the attacks.

After being prevented from reaching their destination, the activists staged an impromptu protest, where they were joined by MK Gilad Kariv of the left-wing Democrats alliance.

The IDF has issued several closed military zone orders throughout the West Bank since the start of the olive harvest season last month, many of which prevented Palestinians from reaching their own land to harvest olives, after what was already a difficult growing season due to low rainfall last winter.

Friday’s effort to assist Palestinians from Burin, near Nablus, was arranged by left-wing groups Peace Now and Rabbis for Human Rights, along with others. In total, seven busloads of activists were expected to join the harvest.

They were not informed of the closed military zone in advance, with the IDF and Israel Police instead choosing to stop the buses mid-route, while they were already traveling through the West Bank.

Peace Now shared a photo on X of the closed military zone order that was handed to its activists, pointing out that no similar order had been handed down to extremist settlers, whom it said were still “roaming freely” despite the spate of violent........

© The Times of Israel