Settlers who attacked Palestinian olive pickers arrested

Security forces arrested Friday two settlers who allegedly assaulted a group of Palestinians who were harvesting olives in their groves near the Hebron Hills region in the southern West Bank.

Israel Defense Forces troops arrived at the scene and fired warning shots in the air, dispersing the assailants. Palestinians said the settlers who attacked them reside in a nearby outpost. Three Palestinians were detained for questioning.

After the incident, the army prevented the Palestinians from harvesting the olives and sent them home.

The Palestinian villagers, residents of the southern Hebron Hills, said that despite the fact that olives meant for oil are best picked directly after the first rain, this year's harvest began prematurely because settlers had caused great damage to the trees.

Several leftist groups, including Israeli movements, said they are assisting the Palestinians in picking the olives in hopes that their presence will deter the settlers from attacking the villagers.

Last week a 28-year-old Palestinian farmer was seriously wounded while picking olives near the Yitzhar settlement south of Nablus. As a result of the recent attacks the IDF and the civil administration have drafted an agreement, which has been approved by the Palestinian Authority, leaders of the settlement movement and several of the leaders in local villages.

According to the new plan, the olive harvest will in more than 30 villages near Nablus will be limited to three days each year. In villages which are in danger of being attacked, the IDF will beef up security for the days of the harvest. Many residents have said the new arrangement allows for only a fraction of the olives to be picked.