Former El Al CEO Arrested Amid West Bank Harvest Clashes

A serious security and public controversy has erupted across the West Bank following a series of clashes and unusual incidents during the olive harvest season. At the center of the events is the arrest of former Civil Aviation Authority director and former El Al CEO Yoel Feldsuh. Feldsuh was detained by police forces during a clash near the Mktam LeDavid farm, adjacent to the Palestinian village of Duma.

Arrest Amid Olive Harvest Clashes

The incident began when a group of activists arrived at the site accompanied by media personnel. A tense confrontation ensued, with local residents complaining that several activists attacked a Jewish teenager with kicks, punches, and sticks, and even stole his mobile phone. The phone was later found inside an activist's harvest tarp. Police forces arriving at the scene arrested two activists for questioning, including Feldsuh. However, field sources noted that it remains unclear whether Feldsuh himself took an active part in the physical assault.

Eyewitnesses provided a different perspective, noting that the incident occurred after the harvest had concluded. According to reports, a group of about 15 retired officers, including generals and academics, were assisting local Palestinians with the olive harvest near Duma. When a young settler allegedly attacked a woman carrying olives, the activists intervened to stop him. Police later arrived and detained two members of the group, including Feldsuh.

Friction Spreads Across the West Bank

This incident is not isolated, as a chain of friction has spread to other areas of the West Bank. In the Shilo Valley, activists and journalists were documented accompanying harvesters and attempting to provoke local residents. Meanwhile, in Kiryat Arba, residents of the Orot Netanel neighborhood were astonished to discover that the IDF had authorized harvesting just 30 meters away from residential homes and children's rooms.

Residents expressed fierce protest over the severe blow to their basic sense of security at home and the decision imposed on them without prior preparation.

A similar situation was reported in the settlement of Neve Daniel, where residents discovered that harvesters were permitted to enter the community itself. Angry residents gathered at the settlement gate, warned of the severe security risk, and blocked the entrance with their bodies, ultimately leading to the cancellation of the planned harvest inside the town.

Security Concerns and Public Outrage

The turbulent events in the West Bank raise grave concerns within the defense establishment and among residents regarding further escalation during the harvest season. Residents are demanding clear answers from the security establishment and law enforcement, while the police investigation into the former El Al CEO and other involved parties continues.