Help protect Palestinian olive farmers

Dear Supporter,

It is olive harvest season in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The olive tree, whose branch is a traditional symbol of peace, has in fact become a source of strife in the Holy Land. Palestinian farmers regularly face violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers and their olive groves are routinely targets of vandalism and theft.

Help our Israeli colleagues at Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) make sure that Palestinian farmers can implement their right to safely work their land. Make a secure online donation today to support the brave efforts of RHR. We are grateful that JustGive.org has generously offered to add $10 to any donation of $10 or more made by October 20th, so act quickly.

RHR helps guarantee Palestinians have access to their agricultural land while reducing the number of violent incidents and acts of theft during the harvest season. By being physically present in the field, coordinating with the Israeli security forces and the local population and pursuing legal remedies, RHR offers Palestinian farmers protection and hope. Last year alone, RHR brought over 200 volunteers to assist 23 villages over the course of 41 work days during the autumn olive harvest.

In June 2006, RHR secured a major Israeli Supreme Court victory guaranteeing Palestinian farmers access to their lands. Despite this landmark decision, RHR still encounters security forces who try to prevent them from accompanying farmers to their lands and who fail to protect Palestinian farmers or their crops.

With the new harvest season underway, and RHR staff and volunteers back in the field, we ask for your support to help bring greater peace and justice to the Holy Land.

To learn more about RHR's work protecting Palestinian farmers, watch this recent video from Nicholas Kristof at The New York Times.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Joshua Bloom
Director of Online Communications
Rabbis for Human Rights-North America