Israeli ex-generals stand with Palestinians amid settler violence

The former Israeli officers joined Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank during the olive harvest. They helped collect olives and stood alongside communities facing attacks by Israeli settlers. Their involvement was unusual because they had served in the Israeli military, which Palestinians say often protects settlers or responds late to violence.

Former Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven organized about 30 senior officials, including six generals. He compared attacks on women and children to pogroms. Former Colonel Doron Meinert said occupation was the main problem of Israeli society. The group’s presence also helped farmers reach land they otherwise could not safely access.

The officials said they were motivated by solidarity with Palestinians, opposition to annexation, and concern about Israel’s reputation. Their action did not end the violence, but it publicly connected former military leaders with demands to confront settler attacks and work with Palestinians.

Israeli settlers are Israelis who live in settlements in the occupied West Bank. The article describes those settlements as illegal under international law, according to the United Nations and most countries. About 500,000 settlers live there alongside at least 3 million Palestinians.

Settler violence involves attacks that can stop Palestinians from reaching their land. The article records physical attacks on olive harvesters and describes settlers hitting women and children. Nimr Nazzal said he could not access his olives without help from the former military officials. Palestinians also say soldiers sometimes protect settlers or arrive too late.

The violence matters because it threatens homes, safety, and access to farmland during harvest season. Yesh Din recorded 180 physical attacks in 35 days. The article also reports that Israeli military personnel were present in more than 23 percent of recorded settler-violence cases.

The violence is widespread during the olive harvest. In the 35 days after the season began, the Israeli rights group Yesh Din recorded 180 physical attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters. That averages more than five recorded attacks per day, although the article does not say that attacks occurred evenly.

The Israeli military was present in more than 23 percent of the cases Yesh Din recorded. Palestinians say soldiers either respond late when called or assist the settlers responsible for violence. The article gives a concrete example near Qusra, where farmers needed former Israeli military personnel to reach their olive trees safely.

The population figures show the scale of the wider setting. At least 3 million Palestinians and about 500,000 illegal Israeli settlers live in the West Bank. The figures underline how settler violence affects a large Palestinian population living alongside a smaller but powerful settler population.

When settler attacks prevent farmers from reaching their land, the immediate consequence is lost access to their olive trees. The article gives a direct example: Nimr Nazzal said it would be impossible for him to reach his olives without the former Israeli military officials accompanying him. Harvesting cannot happen if farmers cannot safely enter their fields.

The key mechanism is intimidation and physical violence. Yesh Din recorded 180 physical attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters during the first 35 days of the season. Palestinians say that when they call the Israeli military, it often responds late or comes to the settlers’ aid. That leaves farmers unable to rely on protection while trying to work.

The article does not quantify crop losses or financial damage. It does show that attacks disrupt a vital seasonal activity and can make Palestinian land effectively inaccessible. The former officers’ presence temporarily opened access, but it did not resolve the wider pattern of violence.

The occupation of the West Bank refers to Israel’s military control over territory where at least 3 million Palestinians live. The article links occupation to settlements, military involvement, and restrictions surrounding Palestinian access to farmland. Former Colonel Doron Meinert called occupation the main problem of Israeli society and said it must be addressed with Palestinians.

In practical terms, military control gives Israeli forces power over security decisions and access in the area. Soldiers can be present during settler violence, respond to calls, or fail to protect Palestinian farmers. Yesh Din found military personnel present in more than 23 percent of recorded cases. Palestinians say soldiers often arrive late or help settlers.

The article does not detail every movement rule or military order. More broadly, an occupying power’s control over security and access makes its conduct central to civilian safety. The former officers’ intervention highlights what happens when farmers cannot safely reach land without outside protection.

The article states that United Nations bodies and most countries deem Israeli settlements illegal under international law regarding military occupations. The basic legal concern is that an occupying power must not treat occupied territory as its own or move its civilian population into that territory as a permanent project.

This matters because settlements change who controls land and resources while Palestinians remain under occupation. In the article’s setting, about 500,000 Israeli settlers live among at least 3 million Palestinians. Settler attacks can also prevent Palestinians from reaching farmland. The military’s presence makes enforcement and civilian protection central legal issues.

The article does not explain the specific legal provisions behind this position. Under widely accepted international humanitarian law, occupation is temporary and does not transfer sovereignty to the occupying state. Settlements are therefore widely regarded as unlawful, while attacks on civilians and failure to protect them raise separate legal and protection concerns.

A military occupying territory has a duty to protect the civilian population and maintain public order. It must enforce the law fairly, prevent violence, and respond when civilians are threatened. These responsibilities apply regardless of ethnicity or political views. The article makes this issue urgent because Palestinians say soldiers sometimes protect settlers instead of the people being attacked.

The concrete mechanism is military control over security. Soldiers can intervene, separate attackers from victims, investigate reports, and ensure farmers reach their land. Yet Yesh Din found Israeli military personnel present in more than 23 percent of recorded settler-violence cases. Palestinians say responses are often late or favor the settlers.

The article reports that some soldiers share the belief that only Jews have rights in the area. That creates concern about impartial enforcement. Meeting the occupying power’s responsibilities would require protecting Palestinian civilians, stopping attacks, holding abusers accountable, and ensuring equal access to safety and justice.