Israel bans two Jewish American women for assisting Palestinian olive harvest in West Bank

The women travelled with other volunteers to Burin in the West Bank to participate in the annual olive harvest alongside Palestinian farmers as a “protective presence.”

Two American Jewish women were banned from Israel for 10 years after they entered a closed military area in the West Bank to assist Palestinian farmers with their olive harvest, left-wing organization Achavat Amim announced on Instagram on Sunday.

The two women, who were not initially named, were deported on Sunday.

The women travelled with other volunteers to Burin in the West Bank to participate in the annual olive harvest alongside Palestinian farmers as a “protective presence.”

“While soldiers and police detained nonviolent volunteers, no action was taken against the settlers who attacked farmers and destroyed trees in the same areas on previous days. Violence goes unpunished. Peace is treated as the treat,” Achavat Amim wrote.

The organization added that it would continue to aid Palestinian farmers in the West Bank. “to defend human dignity that belongs to us all.”

The post added that Israeli left-wing organization B’Tselem reported 150 attacks on Palestinian farmers, olive groves, and homes during the 2025 harvest season.

In late October, Walla reported that extremist settlers had attacked Palestinians more than 15 times in one week.

Command officials are analyzing the situation and refining the deployment of IDF, Border Police, and police forces in the West Bank to prevent further incidents.

“The IDF operates routinely throughout the West Bank, both defensively and offensively. At the same time, it acts in a coordinated and secure manner to enable the olive harvest season,” the military said.

Rabbis for Ceasefire accuses Israel of ‘unholy transgression’

Another organization that participated, Rabbis for Ceasefire, called the two women “teachers of righteousness.”

“Israel has decided to deport two Jewish American women for attempting this act of nonviolent co-resistance – these two women are teachers of righteousness. For Israel to deport them is an avera, an unholy transgression. We encourage all to join us in naming it as such,” the organization wrote.

“To deport solidarity workers is to reject a peaceful, just future. We see this act for what it is: an exertion of Israeli supremacy and intimidation.

“We encourage all who are able to head to the West Bank to aid in the olive harvest now and in future years,” the Rabbis for Ceasefire statement finished.