Dear Friend,

For three years, Palestinian families across the West Bank have been prevented from reaching their own olive trees because of settler violence and intimidation. Their land is still there, their trees are still growing, but they have been unable to harvest the olives that belong to them. This Friday, Israeli and Palestinian activists will return to the Bethlehem area to help one of these families gather their olives, after settlers and the Israeli army blocked our two previous attempts to reach their land and complete the harvest.

We cannot share the exact location for security reasons, but the land is privately owned by a Palestinian family who has every right to access it, yet settler terrorism and state complicity have made doing so dangerous. We don't know what we will face on Friday, but we know that returning to these olive groves is important, both for the family who depends on their land and for their right to continue farming it.

Following a security briefing this week, we have identified an urgent need for additional protective equipment. We need to raise $10,000 to purchase protective helmets, heavy-duty gloves, protective eyewear, first-aid supplies and emergency communication equipment, as well as cover other essential safety and emergency transport costs. 

These are practical measures we can take now to reduce the risks faced by the Palestinian landowners, activists and staff who will be taking part in the harvest. Your contribution will help us put these vital protections in place while the harvest is underway.