An Israeli UH-60 Yanshuf. Oren Rozen CC BY-SA 4.0

By Yariv Mohar

It may seem surprising that a human rights organization often critical of Israeli government policies like Rabbis for Human Rights would release a statement that, to a certain degree, offers praise for the government and the Israeli army on how it conducted the latest iteration of violence on the Gaza border. There should be no doubt that it is appropriate to sharply criticize the steps that led to the recent flare-up. However, this time, after the first round was underway, the way it was handled was positive: It quickly led to a cease fire to restore quiet to Gaza and to the Israeli communities around Gaza. It limited the number of civilian Gazan casualties to very few.

Both the left and the right of the political spectrum have given much criticism for the way the latest round of violence was handled. Alongside the legitimate criticism the facts are that the fighting ended quickly (time will tell if the quiet that has been achieved will hold). Relative to previous clashes there were few casualties, especially of innocent non-combatants. In retrospect previous clashes only achieved a cease fire rather than ambitious objectives such as erasing Hamas’s rule. Why not try to achieve the same but with less fatalities and less civilian suffering?

This time the Israeli army acted differently. These changes appear to have contributed to the briefness of the episode- an important security goal in of itself- alongside fewer casualties and less property damage for Gazan civilians. One of the interesting tactics this time was to target prestigious property belonging to Hamas (their television studio, administrative buildings…) with air strikes while employing advanced warnings in order to minimize casualties. The equation was created between great financial damage – focused on the regimes’ buildings – and not on essential services or the property of the poorest Gazans, coupled with minimum civilian casualties. It seems fair to assume that this tactic does not produce the same rage as would have resulted over fatalities. Previously, Hamas has aspired to prolong the cycle of violence, even at the cost of the lives of its own people, so that it could cynically exploit resulting civilian rage in order to promote its own image of an organization that avenges martyrs. In contrast, focusing on damaging only property promotes a cold calculating mindset of gains and losses that seems to have contributed to the speed in which Hamas was willing to agree to a cease fire. Without the righteous rage to exploit, Hamas has no reason to prolong the fighting.

This is obviously conjecture but it does indicate the need for the security forces to investigate what seems like a real accomplishment both in a military and a human rights sense. This is good for Israelis, especially those living near Gaza and good for the Gazans who are not part of Hamas.

On the critical side one must wonder if the government did everything in its power to avoid this latest round of violence. Human rights abuses have a negative impact not just because they are wrong in and of themselves but also because they encourage more violence. Take, for example, the limitations on the area in which Gazan fishermen are allowed to fish or on the limitations on exports that Israel has imposed- these have nothing to do with security. They are collective punishment and blatant attempts to undermine the rule of Hamas by bringing suffering to over a million Gazans (the fact that Israel plays with these limitations – making them harsher or less harsh according to circumstances- proves that it has little or nothing to do with security). These limitations impose great suffering on a population many of whom are furious at the Hamas regime. This leads Hamas to try to channel this anger elsewhere. For example, orchestrated demonstrations, some violent, some less violent, with flaming kites and the like. Thus, the tension increases and so do the chances of a local incident, such as the exchange of fire when an elite unit of the Israeli army is found in the heart of the Strip, which can escalate into another round of violence.

One can also offer criticism on the political level. As a human rights organization we do not weigh in on what kind of arrangement should be made with Hamas. But we do demand that the government make every political effort, as quickly as possible, to reduce, as much as it can, that which leads to the cycle of violence and human rights abuses caused to the Gazans. Hamas is a despicable terrorist organization consistently violating the human rights of the people under its rule. This does not absolve Israel from committing itself to reducing human right abuses of Gazans.

Along with this critique on how we got here, one must also offer praise where it is due: this time the battle was conducted in a way that brought quiet quickly and with relatively little cost in innocent casualties. As a human rights group we do not only want to highlight the bad but also the good. We urge the Israeli government to learn from this example and to strengthen from it. Those with a humanitarian worldview should know how to acknowledge the good during a complex period. This is in keeping with the Jewish tradition of “Hakarat Hatov” – knowing when and how to show gratitude for a positive act.

In the prayer for welfare of the State of Israel we pray that God grant our leaders wisdom and good sense. It seems like sometimes our prayers are answered.

Yariv Mohar is the spokesperson for Rabbis for Human Rights

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Over the last few weeks the Israeli authorities have demolished a number of homes that belonged to the families of Palestinian terrorists under the claim that such an action serves as a “deterrence” for additional terror.  As this topic once again surfaces in Israeli discourse, RHR responds with known facts on this controversial practice.

Again and again we hear from impassioned politicians that the homes belonging to the families’ of terrorists must be demolished in order to deter other terrorists. This despite the fact that the individuals living in the house after the apprehension of the terrorist are not the terrorists and there is no evidence of them committing any crime. If there is evidence against specific members of the family of a crime, then they should be tried and punished as a matter of law — never punished casually and without trial, based on their family status. The justification for such conduct is that it is a policy of “deterrence” rather than punishment. Recently there has been an increase of such demolitions on family homes. In principle, even if this particular measure was considered effective, it is necessary to consider whether the damage it causes is proportionate and legitimate in relation to the purpose it serves. But what evidence is there that says it is effective at all? Is there proof that such measures result in lowered rates of terrorism? In fact, there is not. The truth is these demolitions only sound effective when in search of a way to channel built up anger and rage.

Let us return to the known facts about the issue:

A military committee headed by Maj. Gen. Udi Shani, appointed by Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon in 2005, to examine the policy of house demolitions in the Occupied Territories, recommended that these demolitions be stopped as they are counter-productive. A Haaretz report on the committee, which was partly based on an IDF internal study, detailed:

“An internal IDF study published at the end of 2003 summed up the first 1,000 days of fighting in the conflict: up until today, there is no proof of the deterrent effect of punitive home demolitions. The number of attacks, the report notes, even increased several months after the IDF began the demolitions. Major General (res.) Yitzhak Eitan, who served as OC Central Command in the first two years of the conflict, said a few months ago that the demolition has the opposite effect of what Israel intends. According to him, punitive demolitions encourage revenge attacks.”

Moreover, Palestinian citizens of Israel have a much lower rate of terror than Palestinians in the territories, even though the homes of Palestinian terrorists with Israeli citizenship are not being demolished. The rate of terror among Palestinians living within Israel’s 1948 borders, however, has not always been lower. Before the War of Independence there were extensive incidents of bloodshed, but the slow process of democratization and relative equality channelled the opposition of the Arabs in Israel to the policy of the government to non-violent political means rather than terror. This is how is civil regime, rather than military one, works.

This is not just anecdotal or relevant to the specific situation in Israel. A comprehensive study, based on a global database, examined legislation meant to combat terrorism that involves punishment or collective harm to a population uninvolved in crime or terror. Naturally included in this category would be the demolition of the homes of families’ of terrorists. The results of this study show that such a policy is counterproductive, and actually only increases the rate of terrorism. Details of the study:

Shor, Eran. “Counterterrorist legislation and subsequent terrorism: does it work?.” Social forces 95.2 (2016): 525-557

Another anecdotal demonstration of the counter-productivity of such home demolition policy can be found in this op-ed by veteran security affairs commentator Avi Issacharoff:

“Although some seem to believe destroying assailants’ homes is a comprehensive solution to preventing terrorism, the case of the Abu Hamid family shows that not only do they not prevent attacks — they can sometimes even fuel motivation for revenge. The Abu Hamid home will be rebuilt within a few years, likely with Palestinian Authority funding, as one Fatah leader has said. Even if the Fatah money is not forthcoming, someone else — perhaps Hamas — will provide the funds.”

Thus, without any real effectiveness for deterrence, the demolition of the homes of families’ of terrorists, who have not been charged with any crime, is a grave violation of traditional Jewish morality as well as basic democratic values. How far is it from the principle of “Parents shall not be put to death for children, nor children put to death for parents: A person shall be put to death only for his crime” (Deuteronomy 24:16)?

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Last week the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel made the decision to remove Ecumenical Accompaniers from Hebron due to concerns about harassment by the Jewish community of Hebron and the Israel Defense Forces protecting them. This was done at the same time that the Government of Israel decided not to renew the mandate of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) which has been in place since 1997.

The role of the WCC accompaniers is to serve as a peaceful protective presence for residents in Hebron. They were asked to stand witness to the situation in Hebron by Palestinian church leaders in the region. Recent videos by Im Tirzu have not shown anything to the contrary although they have caused incitement to physically harm the Ecumenical Accompaniers.

Rabbis for Human Rights condemn harassment of any kind in Hebron or elsewhere and seek to be a channel for conflict transformation. We stand in solidarity with everyone who lives in fear and insecurity. Our attitude toward the non-Jewish public living in our midst and in our environment must serve as a model for morality in Israel and the world and not as an example of injustice and hatred.

We therefore joined the Ecumenical Accompaniers from EAPPI in Hebron on Tuesday, February 5 2019 in order to understand the situation better. We heard about the hopes and fears of the residents of Hebron. We also intend to meet with the representatives of the Jewish community in Hebron in order to hear their perspectives and try to calm the holy city for Jews and Muslims alike.

Parashat Terumah, which we read on Shabbat, deals with the construction of the Tabernacle. The Hebrew word for tabernacle is “Mishkan” and contains the word neighbor, which refers both to the person living beside you and to the verb “to dwell.” We hope that the holy city of the Patriarchs and the Matriarchs  will one day be an example of building good neighborly relations based on freedom, justice, and peace as envisioned by the prophets of Israel.

RHR president Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman speaking on the recent tour and Parashat Terumah. 

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PRESS RELEASE | MAY 15 2019

Israel’s High Court hears Rabbis for Human Rights’ petition demanding South Hebron Hill Palestinians access to a path between their villages.

Radical settler intimidating Palestinian schoolchildren on their way to school as Israeli army escort arrives. Footage: Operation Dove

The path connecting the villages of Al Tuwani and Tuba is currently closed to those wishing to get to work or doctors. Children who need the path to get to school can do so with an army escort.

During the hearing the army commander of Judea told the court there is another way to move between the villages. Admittedly, it means walking an hour and half – but can’t they simply drive instead? Judge Vilner asked if the army would provide buses for the children. The answer was “no”, but- the commander added- even though there are people who live in caves, some do have cars and even smartphones.

While the commander admitted that confrontations with Jewish settlers do occur when the children are escorted to school and that this accompaniment uses up army resources, he maintained that the solution is taking the longer route.

Even though the photos show that this road does not connect all the way to the village, the judges nevertheless suggested we withdraw our petition since this has been the situation for years. If they don’t have bread, then let them eat cake.

Background on the Petition

On Monday, January 29 2018, Rabbis for Human Rights petitioned the Israeli High Court of Justice on behalf of residents of Palestinian villages in the southern Hebron hills. Around 1,000 Palestinians inhabit the area, subsisting mainly on sheep and agriculture.  The petition demands these Palestinian villagers be allowed to utilize a road accessing their communities — a dirt road connecting them to Route 317, which is the main road in the area. The villages of Al Tuwani, Maghayir al-Abeed, Tuba, Upper Safai, and the Lower Safai relied on this road from when it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1997, the illegal outpost of Havat Maon was established nearby, and violent attacks by Israeli extremists from the settlement began against Palestinians using the road.

In 2003, following severe violence, the army closed the dirt road for two days with a Closed Military Zone order. Ever since, the violence has intensified and the Palestinians have found themselves in a new reality where they fear using the road and are actually prevented from accessing it. Palestinian children who continued to use the road briefly were also attacked, as were international activists who volunteered to accompany the children in 2004. As far as we are aware, no suspects have been arrested in relation to the attack on the children, and certainly no legal proceedings have been initiated in this regard. At that point, the residents were more or less prevented from accessing the road, fearing for their safety.

Following that attack, it was decided that the children would receive a military escort to protect them from violence. However, the escort does not come consistently, while intimidation and the threat of violence continued, resulting in damage to the children’s schooling.  For video testimony from the affected children as well as school administers, please go here.

In correspondence prior to the submission of the petition, the army claimed the road was an internal road of the illegal Havat Maon outpost, despite its location outside the outpost. Aerial photographs from 1972 submitted by RHR show the road existed at that time — i.e. much earlier than the establishment of the illegal outpost. At the end of December 2017, the army wrote to RHR that ​the road is a Closed Military Zone, for the security of the outpost.

In the petition, Rabbis for Human Rights — representing the residents — argues that the blocking of access contradicts Jewish spirit (Jewish law) and the fundamental values ​​of Israeli law as well as International Humanitarian Law. In particular, International Law obligates the military regime controlling an area under belligerent occupation to protect the rights of the local residents and enforce the rule of law.

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Group photo around Ibrahim

By Dr Yehuda Schwartz

Ibrahim Sawilam, 16, was injured in a hate crime in Jerusalem on May 14. He had gone to the Old City with friends to pray following Iftar, the traditional evening meal during the month of Ramadan. They were attacked by a group of ten Jewish hoodlums whom I want to call a “minyan of evil.”

Ibrahim suffers from a disorder in one of his eyes. During the attack, his glasses fell. His bending to retrieve them prevented him from running away in time. A shower of blows and kicks to his face left him lying bleeding on the pavement next to his broken glasses. His friends managed to escape and at that moment did not notice his absence.

A week after assault we visited Ibrahim and his family in their home in the Shuafat neighborhood following the Iftar meal. We came as a “minyan of kindness”— myself and RHR board member Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann together with a delegation from the Tag Meir Forum.

Ibrahim’s mother & grandmother with Tamar, an activist for Tag Meir

The visit was exciting, sad, and outrageous all at once: The warmth and generosity of this sweet family, Ramadan and the delicious deserts they offered, contrasted against the stories of the brutality of the attackers, Ibrahim’s trauma, the apathy of the police, the uncaring bureaucracy, the delaying of Ibrahim’s relatives – including his mother – at the hospital, and the physical humiliation endured…

After his cousin, Muhammad Abu Khdeir, was kidnapped and murdered by three Jewish Israelis five years ago, Ibrahim shut himself up in the family house. In time, he recovered and began playing soccer with Jewish friends in Neve Ya’akov. But now he and his friends are afraid to go outside …

Two weeks had passed since the crime, and I wondered what has happened since? I asked Hassan, Ibrahim’s father. Almost nothing. The Shin Bet asked questions, and it is not even clear whether there is an investigation at all. Contributing to the family’s suspicion that the police are not investigating at all is the fact that after the attack, they barely answered the father’s phone calls. Only after Galei Zahal (a radio station) contacted them did a police investigator finally call him back.

Ibrahim’s mother says there should be many cameras in the area of the attack that may have documented the incident. Why not check them? The police say there are no cameras…According to his father, Ibrahim was attacked on Highway 1, near the railway tracks, at the junction opposite the national police headquarters. All the young assailants – he added – had what he described to be a look of ‘settlers’, with large kippot and tzitsim (fringes). I went to check the scene. I found one camera facing the opposite direction, onto the road. Are there any more cameras in the area? A conclusive answer requires a professional investigation.

The location where the assault took place

Ibrahim is recovering. He has gotten new glasses necessary for his visual impairment. Eventually his father will convince him to return to playing soccer with his Jewish friends from Neve Yaakov…

More: Haaretz: Palestinian Teen Attacked in East Jerusalem by Jewish Teens Yelling ‘Death to Arabs’

Dr. Yehuda Schwartz is the director of the Jahalin project at Rabbis for Human Rights

The post Solidarity Visit to Recent Palestinian Victim of Hate Crime appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

In the Jerusalem area? Like kids? Want to make a real difference in their lives? Come volunteer for a few mornings at the Jabal al Jahalin summer camp for Jahalin Bedouin children!

The post Bedouin summer camp volunteers needed! appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

On June 12 2019, the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met regarding accessibility at the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. The backdrop to this meeting is the ongoing struggle of individuals who use wheelchairs seeking to pray, like any other, at the Tomb of the Patriarchs.

Seeking to ensure the rights of people living with disabilities as well as freedom of worship for people of all faiths, Attorney Becky Keshet, director of RHR’s advocacy work, and Dr. Yehuda Schwartz,  director of RHR’s field work, attended the meeting and followed the discussion with great interest.

The head of the Civil Administration, Ben-Hur, stated that negotiations are being held with an authorized official from the Palestinian Authority on all questions- from a small elevator to roofing and bathrooms on the Jewish side to a few other concerns on the Palestinian side. He added that a number of alternatives had been examined as per to the Committee’s request in the previous hearing. He add that according to a legal opinion, it is possible to expropriate land from the Waqf ( Islamic charitable trust which controls part of the structure) and the Hebron municipality planning authorities. He recommended this be done in cooperation, and not unilaterally.

Some members of the committee objected to any negotiations with the Palestinian Authority. Others warned that such would take too long, as there is a one month deadline for negotiations.

Ostensibly, this is a humanitarian need that serves both Jewish and Palestinian individuals living with disability. However, right-wing Knesset members demanded Israel claim sovereignty over the area and annex it on the grounds that it belongs to us, as it was purchased by Avraham for 400 shekels. Because of this, they stated, we are the rightful owners of the building and do not have to ask permission from anyone…

As we recall in the Book of Genesis, Abraham had two sons, Isaac and Ishmael: “His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the Cave of the Machpelah” (Genesis 25: 9). Thus, we see that after their paths split, the men met up again together to bury their father in Hebron. This act carries hope of reconciliation between the two sons in the future — in Hebron specifically— around their common father. This hope must not be destroyed.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs, Abraham’s burial place, “the friend of Gd,” Al Khalil in Arabic, is the place where the children of Israel and the sons and daughters of Ishmael must join together to make a statement to those living with disability. Here, in this place of both profound religious significance that is also a bleeding wound in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is an opportunity to nurture interfaith connection rather than sow yet more discord. May we take it.

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PRESS RELEASE| JUNE 27 2019

The state has replied to a petition  filed by Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) demanding  the changing of Arabic street names into Hebrew names in Hebron be stopped by stating that the work had been done without authority. This changing of names from Arabic to Hebrew represents an attempt to obliterate Palestinian identity and history in the city of Hebron.

Hebrew/English signs in Hebron with names changed from Arabic

For example, local Hebron settlers changed the name of Shuhada Street, the main thoroughfare in historic Hebron to “Emek Hevron Street.”  They also changed Arabic names to Hebrew names including King David, Trapet and Sde Chemed.  Neighborhoods were also renamed. They have even gone so far as to rename a central junction “Elior”, after the Israeli soldier who killed a man after he had already been taken into custody. Furthermore, the signs are only in Hebrew and English, with no Arabic at all.

Avi Dabush, the director of RHR: “We are going to continue to demand, in the framework of the petition, the removal of these signs and supervision of this shared public space. ”

Rabbi Dr. Michael Marmur, Chairman of RHR: “There is a saying in the Zohar, the great work of the Jewish esoteric tradition: It states that ‘Hebron is the Torah, and whoever strives for it is called a chaver – a friend’ (Zohar III, 160a). We believe that you are not a true friend if you strive to create needless provocations, if you turn the Torah into ‘a spade to dig with’ or a weapon. The Torah we believe to be a Torah of truth teaches the promotion of good neighborly relations, and the avoidance of exaggeration and escalation. The challenge is to turn Hebron into a place of friendship, and not to take actions designed to provoke rage and bloodshed.”

More on petition

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Join us to ensure our Palestinian brothers and sisters a safe and complete yearly olive harvest!

Extreme national-religious settlers systematically embitter Palestinians’ life, especially during the olive harvest. Through harassment, stealing, meddling and even violence, they seek to deprive Palestinian farmers of the livelihood they earn from the harvest while driving them to despair — all with the hope that the farmers will give up and abandon their lands. The atmosphere has changed for worse this year. The extremists are emboldened by the Netanyahu-Smotrich government, promising them the annexation of the territories, supported by Trump and Friedman. We have good reason to fear that the “Hilltop youth” will translate this support into violence.

Rabbis for Human Rights staff and volunteers help ensure the olive harvest goes as smoothly and peacefully as possible for Palestinians. Our presence is the best deterrent to aggression and interference. The Palestinian villagers nervously await us.

The winter was blessed by good rain and a great harvest is expected, thank G-d. The farmers’ families need many working hands. Please invite your friends too to join us! The harvest will begin on October 2, 2019 and will end in the first week of November 2019. We will leave for northern Samaria and focus on villages and plots of land that have a history of tensions. These are mostly adjacent to outposts and settlements, especially those known for being “problematic”.

Violence by Jews who call themselves religious against their Palestinian neighbors is a desecration of G-d’s name. We didn’t wait two thousand years to establish yet another country hostile to religious and ethnic difference! Join Rabbis for Human Rights in the beauty of the olive groves and we will together put into place a Judaism based on dignity for all: a Judaism of Tikun-Olam and a “light upon the nations,” which honors the image of G-d in every person, and respects their inalienable rights. Join us and sanctify Israel’s name, and Heaven’s name in the Holy Land.

Facebook event // Register: http://bit.ly/Olives2019

For more details:

Mira Silberman: Office Manager 02-6482757
Yehuda Schwartz: Field Officer 052-3879461

The post Volunteers needed for Palestinian Olive Harvest this October! appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

PRESS RELEASE | SEPTEMBER 25 2019

As they have for the past 17 years, Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) will once again assist in the Palestinian olive harvest. With the help of RHR, West Bank farmers will be able to more safely and completely harvest their olives in the face of army obstruction and the failure of the security forces to appropriately respond to extremist settler violence, harassment, and vandalism. The army often restricts Palestinians access to their own agricultural lands, preventing them from completing the harvest and blocking continuous access to their lands. At the same time, extremist settlers trespass onto these lands, damaging olive trees and stealing olives.

The harvest will begin Wednesday, October 2, and end about a month later, on Tuesday, November 5. It will focus on five different northern West Bank villages. As it has in years past, the organization expects hundreds of volunteers from Israel and abroad to join them.

Executive director of Rabbi for Human Rights, Avi Dabush, said:

“News of the destruction of olive trees and violence against Palestinian farmers by law-breaking settlers has unfortunately become routine – no one even bats an eye. Entire groves are damaged and whole crops wiped out, not to mention the harm done to the livelihoods of the farmers. We at RHR are proud to once again organize this important work with the help of hundreds of volunteers from both Israel and abroad; it is both the right thing to do and the Jewish thing to do.”

To register as a volunteer: http://bit.ly/Olives2019

The post Press Release: 2019 Olive Harvest to Kick Off appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

PRESS RELEASE | OCTOBER 16 2019

Volunteers from Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) were attacked this morning by masked men from the settlement of Yitzhar as they assisted Palestinian farmers in harvesting their olives in the northern West Bank village of Burin. The attackers wielded metal rods and stones, and also started a fire in the harvest area that continues to rage in nearby surrounding groves.

Fire started by assailants burning in groves outside Burin

Among the injured was Rabbi Moshe Yehudai, 80 years old, a member of the RHR’s executive board, who suffered an injury to his head and limbs and was evacuated to the hospital by ambulance.

RHR’s Executive Director, Avi Dabush: “We will continue with the olive harvest and stand together in the face of violence, bullying and theft. This is the Jewish and moral answer to extreme and violent messianism, and it is the only hope for a future of peace and a shared life.”

RHR volunteers joined Palestinian farmers this morning in the northern West Bank village of Burin for the olive harvest. They were assaulted by a group of masked men who set the groves on fire and beat the volunteers with metal rods. Rabbi Moshe Yehudai, an RHR board member, suffered a head injury and was evacuated to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba for treatment. Police and emergency medical services were called to the scene, and the remaining volunteers were evacuated from the area.

Injured volunteer

The fire started by the perpetrators around Burin continues to burn. Earlier this week, settlers from Yitzhar threatened to harm the Palestinian land-owners, their groves, and their harvest.

Avi Dabush, Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights: “The violent attack this morning on Rabbis for Human Rights’ volunteers is another testament to the ‘wild west’ atmosphere of the West Bank led by jealous fanatics from the areas around Yitzhar. We will continue with the olive harvest as we have for the last seventeen years and stand together in the face of violence, bullying and theft. This is the Jewish and moral answer to extreme and violent messianism, and it is the only hope for a future of peace and a shared life.”

For seventeen years Rabbis for Human Rights has harvested olives alongside Palestinian farmers and land-owners. RHR’s assistance helps ensure Palestinian farmers can more safely and completely fulfill their right to harvest their olive trees in the face of the failure of the security forces to address violent extremists and vandals from neighboring Israeli settlements. The army often unfairly restricts Palestinian access to their agricultural lands, making it difficult for them to complete their harvest, while extremist settlers often trespass on Palestinian land, causing damage to olive trees or stealing olives.

The post Press Release: RHR harvest volunteers attacked by Extremist Settlers appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

Rabbis for Human Rights has joined with twenty-two other human rights and anti-occupation organizations in a statement protesting the Supreme Court’s decision to expel Omar Shakir, the country representative for Human Rights Watch, for the nature of his work and its connection – as claimed by the state – to support for the boycott of Israel.

Omar Shakir. Photo: Human Rights Watch

RHR views this decision to expel as a serious violation of the freedom of expression and the right to protest, as well as another another indicator of the shrinking democratic space in Israel. There is room to disagree, there is room to argue, and there is room to protest, but there is no need to resort to banning and the persecution and punishing of those who criticize, especially human rights activists and organizations.

The post Statement on deportation of Human Rights Watch worker Omar Shakir appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

Early this October, we embarked on Rabbis for Human Rights’ 17th annual Palestinian olive harvest. An unprecedented harvest in our history, we took out over 600 volunteers to help Palestinian farmers pick their olives in the Northern West Bank for over thirty days! Our help made a tremendous difference for the farmers. Many of our friends and supporters who could not join us in the groves strengthened us with generous donations and/or their public support of our efforts. Even as we faced violent attacks from Messianic goons, we continued to keep our promise: until the last olive.

Now is the time to say THANK YOU to everyone who joined us and everyone who contributed and supported us in some way. The harvest was a success because of your support and solidarity.

– Please join us at our olive harvest closing ceremony-

Monday, December 16, 19
Congregation Beit Daniel in Tel Aviv
6:30PM

Gathering at 6:30 p.m.

The post December 16: Olive Harvest Closing Ceremony appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

According to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the 2019 olive harvest was marked with a 50 percent increase of incidents of interference compared to 2018! This included damage to nearly 500 trees, 27 incidents of theft of equipment or olives, and nine incidents of violence towards Palestinians.

Rabbis for Human Rights experienced it first-hand. During this year’s harvest,  Palestinian farmers and RHR volunteers were violently attacked, olives were stolen, olive trees were destroyed and damaged and farmers were denied access to their land. We are all too familiar with the violence and hate. We must nurture rights and hope!

Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish “New Year of the Trees,” allows us to return to the fields and to plant trees for tomorrow. The trees we plant with our Palestinian friends will help them to work their land and earn a living with dignity as they face the harsh and ongoing reality of occupation and dispossession.

This Tu B’Shevat we invite you to join with us for our central olive tree planting event, which will take place on Friday, February 14th

Register here –> https://forms.gle/GSqN1VxBL2FdUsVQ6

Can’t join? Support us through a donation!

Give in dollars –> http://bit.ly/Plant2020

– $36 covers a tree and all the work required to get it into the ground of a Palestinian farmer who needs it. This year, the trees we plant are more than baby saplings. Purchased from a Palestinian nursery in the West Bank, they will be 50 pound trees that will bear fruit as early as next year!
– $72 covers transportation needs for participants to come plant with us
– $144 for general support to RHR’s olive tree campaign

Give in NIS –>https://bit.ly/2MCOObM

-120 NIS covers a tree and all the work required to get it into the ground of Palestinian farmer who needs it
-250 NS covers transportation needs for participants to come plant with us
-500 NIS for general support to RHR’s olive tree campaign

The post Feb 14: Planting Hope // Tu B’Shevat Tree Planting appeared first on Rabbis for Human Rights.

PRESS RELEASE | FEBRUARY 16 2020

With an expired “closed military zone” order,  the Israeli Army prohibited two hundred activists from Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) from planting olive trees together with Palestinian farmers in the Yassuf village olive groves, some of which had previously been damaged by extremist settlers.

RHR’s executive director, Avi Dabush:

It is incomprehensible why the army interprets planting olive trees and eating dried fruit as “an attempt to disturb the public order.” It is clear that the only “order” that has been interfered with was the order to plant trees in accordance with the traditions of the Jewish holiday of Tu Beshevat.

Two hundred RHR activists came to the Palestinian village of Yassuf, located in the northern West Bank, to participate in a tree planting activity and ceremony together with Palestinian farmers, some of whose olive groves had been damaged, burned or vandalized by local settlers. The activists, who came from all over the country and represented different organizations including Zazim, Stand Together, and Combatants for Peace, were confronted by the Israeli army’s refusal to allow the activists to enter the olive groves, presenting them with a “closed military zone” order. When activists asked the army officer why the order was issued, the officer responded by saying “you are coming to disturb the public order.” After a lengthy delay it was discovered that the order itself was invalid and out of date. However, in the meantime, the Palestinian farmers succeeded in planting the trees while the activists were confined, by army order, to the center of the village, which is close to the Yitzhar settlement. The activists, prevented by the army to plant trees, left the area shortly thereafter.

Avi Dabush, RHR’s Executive Director further stated:

We came to plant olive trees with rural Palestinian farmers who suffer from systematic violence and harassment, and honor together Tu Beshevat, the Jewish holiday of the trees, with the hope that this kind of activity will build optimism and solidarity between us and our Palestinian partners. It is sad and humbling to see how indiscriminately and arbitrarily the army issues ‘closed military’ orders as a way to prevent activity that is only about agriculture and peace. It is beyond my understanding why the army would interpret the planting of olive trees and the eating of dried fruit as an ‘attempt to break the order.’ Surely the only order violated here is the only one that is truly relevant – the traditional call to plant trees on Tu Beshevat.”

Haaretz: Israeli army blocks 200 activists from planting trees with Palestinians in the West Bank

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