Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have been attacking Palestinians in multiple villages, including the Christian town of Taybeh.

Israel has imposed new rules on the olive harvest this year, prohibiting Palestinians from working in what’s known as Area C, which is under Israeli security control and encompasses the majority of the territory’s agricultural land.

Taybeh has two-thirds of its land is in Area C, with the rest in Area B.

“During this year’s olive harvest, many families have faced serious difficulties accessing their land,” said Father Bashar Fawadleh, the Catholic parish priest, in an open letter.

RELATED: Pope appeals for persecuted Palestinian Christians as violence continues

Fawadleh says olives have been stolen and trees damaged in some areas of the town, reducing a harvest essential to the community’s livelihood.

“For generations, olive trees have provided not only income, but also a deep connection to our history, our heritage, and the land on which our families have lived for centuries,” he writes, adding that the olive harvest is both an economic necessity and “an important expression of our identity and perseverance.”

“This year, the losses have been particularly painful. Many families will produce far less olive oil than they need for their own households. Some who have spent their lives caring for these trees may now find themselves unable to rely on the fruits of their own land,” Fawadleh says.

“We are deeply concerned about the impact this situation will have on families who are already facing significant challenges. Every lost harvest places additional pressure on people striving to remain on their land and preserve their way of life,” he continues.

At least four Palestinians have been killed and more than 100 injured since the harvest season began earlier this month in the West Bank, according to Palestinian officials. They say thousands of trees have been damaged, costing farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

RELATED: Jerusalem Patriarch visits Taybeh, calls for protection of Christian presence

Maya Street, the Middle East Program Officer for CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, says their partners are “repeatedly sounding the alarm on the increasing violence and restrictions in the West Bank during the olive harvest,” adding the Christian town of Taybeh is facing significant loss.

“Families in the village rely on the income from the harvest each year, and yet they are cut off from their own land or watch as settlers uproot trees and attack livestock,” she says, and adds that this not an isolated occurrence.

“It forms part of an increasing pattern of violence against Palestinians, and their land and heritage,” Street says.

“Last month, the UK government drew attention to rampant ‘settler terrorism’ and settlement expansion in the West Bank. It announced a ban on settlement trade and further sanctions against violent settlers,” she continues,

“Palestinians in Taybeh are urgently reminding us why this cannot wait,” she says.

Israel’s police and army did not immediately respond to questions about the attacks.

This article contains reporting from Associated Press.

______

You are reading this Crux Now article for free. You can register for our free daily newsletter here, and you can become a Crux Now supporter for full access to all our premium content here. To find out more about why becoming a Crux Now supporter is a great idea, go here.