All you wanted to know about the olive harvest and did not dare to ask ›

Olive harvest, Burin, West Bank, 9.10.2012 | cc: flickr, Activestills

You are invited to come and harvest olives at the Palestinian villages near Nablus (and in other places) and near to settlements. The importance of an Israeli presence at the olive harvest is to demonstrate solidarity with the village inhabitants – farmers, the great majority of whom make their living from the olives and request our help and presence during the harvest season.

The presence of Israeli volunteers in the area generally keeps the settlers away and also causes the army to guard and protect the harvesters.  Unfortunately, Israelis cannot go to places defined as areas of conflict and the army decides on this (close to settlements).

The Supreme Court ruled that Palestinians should be allowed to harvest their olives until the last olive.  The role of the army and its orders are to enable this and our presence causes this to be carried out.  Just like every year, we at RHR organize contacts with the army and with the Palestinian villages and so it is important that you coordinate your arrival at the harvest and your transportation with us.

Olive trees near Yanon

Jerusalem

• The bus leaves Jerusalem every day depending on the number of those registered (not on Shabbat) from Gan Hapa’amon at 6:30 and will collect volunteers at the railway station at Modi’in-Pate, Modi’in at 7:30.

Tel Aviv

• The train from Arlozorov Station in Tel-Aviv leaves for Modi’in at 6:48 and arrives at 7:22 at Pate Modiin. (The train to Rosh Ha’Ayin is not operating until the end of October)

Collection point for private cars – Rosh Ha’Ayin

• Another collection point for private cars is at the parking lot of the railway station of Rosh Ha’Ayin at 8:00, where you can leave you car and board the Rabbis’ bus (not on Shabbat or Hagim)