The Israeli occupation forces announced on Friday morning, November 14, a “closed military zone” in the village of Burin near Nablus in the West Bank, shortly before hundreds of Israeli activists were expected to arrive to assist Palestinians in their olive harvest.

The activists include, among others, members of Peace Now, Rabbis for Human Rights and Partnership for Peace. The visit had been planned as part of a broad effort to help Palestinians harvest their olives in the area, against the backdrop of numerous incidents of violence by settlers against Palestinians and Israeli activists during the harvest season.

Hundreds of Israeli activists gathered near the Ariel settlement at the Palestinian occupied territories after the army blocked the road to Burin, Friday, November14, 2025 (Photo: Rabbis for Human Rights)

Throughout the olive harvest, there were several locations in the West Bank where the occupation army issued closed military zone orders as Palestinians arrived to harvest olives on their own land. Violence against Palestinians during their olive harvest season, is the most violent in years, according to UN data, October 2025 was the most violent month of the harvest since 2006. The harvest began in mid-October, with more than 250 recorded settler attacks against Palestinians since the start of the season.

Peace Now’s Executive Director Lior Amihai said in a statement that settler attacks are not only breaking records but are backed and funded by the Israeli far-right government. “Instead of fighting terrorism and arresting the perpetrators, the government has turned the hilltop terrorists into its operational arm on the ground, paving the way for de facto annexation,” he said.

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=33061