Clash Erupts in Binyamin During Olive Harvest; Retired General Detained

A young Jewish shepherd reported being attacked by Palestinians and left-wing activists near the Alon Road in the Shilo Hills region of the Binyamin area, sustaining light injuries. Police officers from the Judea and Samaria District, responding to the report of the assault near the Makhtem David farm, detained two suspects for questioning following testimony gathered at the scene. Before police arrived, IDF forces dispersed the participants and restored order, and the suspects were transferred to the police station to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

Arrest of a Reserve General

Following the police statement, the Commanders for Israel's Security movement published its version of the events, revealing that one of the detainees is a member of the movement, retired Brigadier General Yoel Pelschu. According to the movement, a group of former senior defense establishment officials arrived to participate to an olive harvest in the village of Duma. During the harvest, Jewish activists allegedly arrived and began attacking Palestinian women. Group members, including Pelschu, stepped in to protect them, sparking the confrontation.

The movement expressed outrage over the conduct of the police and security forces, claiming they arrested Pelschu instead of the attackers themselves. In an official statement, the movement demanded the immediate release of the senior officer, stating he was arrested wrongfully. The organization also called for a comprehensive investigation into both the Jewish attackers and the police conduct during the incident.

Tension Amidst the Harvest Season

The clash in Binyamin occurs against the backdrop of the olive harvest season, which began last week and is considered annually to be an especially sensitive and volatile period in Judea and Samaria. Security forces are required to navigate between preventing friction and violence and allowing the harvest in approved plots while preventing disruptions and attacks by hilltop youth. Concurrently, the defense establishment's new directive, as reported in Israel Hayom, is being enforced to disallow Palestinian harvesting on state lands this year to reduce friction, permitting it only on private plots subject to security coordination._

"Arrested wrongfully," stated the Commanders for Israel's Security movement regarding the detention of retired Brigadier General Yoel Pelschu.

Olive harvest sites are frequently attended by Israeli and foreign left-wing activists accompanying Palestinians, frequently resulting in friction. The Yesha Council claims that some activists arrive with the stated purpose of creating provocations. A security official noted that some activists attempt to persuade Palestinians to harvest in unauthorized areas. In light of this, it was recently reported that following an appeal on the matter, Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed authorities to work on issuing restraining orders against activists endangering the area.