When the settler reinforcements arrived at the scene - someone had brought a large dog, most had guns - Zelter again called the police, whose only advice was for her and the villagers to leave the area. Zelter noticed that some settlers had started to break away from the group and were attempting to close in on them. When some of the villagers did begin to leave, the settlers charged, throwing rocks and shouting, and surrounded Zelter.

A tall settler tore the camera from around her neck another snatched her bag. One settler told her, "go, or there will be bloodshed and you will be responsible." Zelter tried to remain calm and asked for her belongings to be returned to her, at this, her passport and purse were thrown at her. The rest of her belongings are still missing. Zelter insisted on making a statement to the police. DCL, soldiers and police accompanied her back to the area, but refused to allow her to go to the settlement to find the people who had stolen her things. Zelter went to Ariel police station to make her statement and look at pictures of settlers.

The police say they are investigating the incident. Later that same evening a huge fire was started in the olive groves of Marda, just below Ariel settlement. Settlers were also reported to be stealing the olives of Palestinian villagers near Hebron. The olive picking season is just beginning
in the area and many villages are feeling increasingly vulnerable to the armed settler militias that are seemingly out of control.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:The International Solidarity Movement:
http://www.palsolidarity.org

Please also see: “Olive Harvesters Attacked” and “Invitation to the Harvest, parts 1 and 2” in our Economics section.

Photo of an ancient olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives, courtesy of the Bethel College (MN) HolyLandPhotos.org http://www.HolyLandPhotos.org