A bitter harvest in the occupied West Bank | Letters

Re Louis Theroux’s nonfiction (If you were shocked by my movie connected Israeli settlers successful the West Bank, you haven’t been paying attention, 10 May), immoderate years backmost I had a little speech with Daniella Weiss successful an olive grove connected the hillside adjacent the colony of Kedumim. It was during a standoff betwixt Israeli settlers, the Israeli service and the Palestinian farmers who owned the onshore we were helping to harvest.

She said the onshore was “empty” erstwhile Kedumim was established successful 1975, and that the well-established aged olive trees were wild. I pointed retired that they were increasing successful well-spaced rows. “They’re wild,” she replied. I noted that the hillside was terraced with stones. “They’re wild,” she repeated. I gave up discussing further. Louis Theroux, successful his fantabulous film, summed her up good with a azygous word: “sociopathic”.

We nary longer spell to assistance harvest those lands arsenic they person been stolen by settlers. Weiss has the afloat enactment of the Israeli government. She and the settlers person entree to automatic weapons and the extortion of the Israeli army. The Palestinians person nary extortion whatsoever. Anyone with an ounce of humanity tin spot which broadside we should beryllium supporting.
Maggie Foyer
Founder, The Olive Harvest Trust

Louis Theroux’s documentary volition person been achingly acquainted to america Northern Irish. It is nary astonishment that our divided communities place with 1 broadside oregon the other, and some Palestinian and Israeli flags are wide flown here, each calling retired that we cognize your symptom and we’re connected your side. One can’t marque like-for-like comparisons, but the communicative of a settler assemblage that pushes the different speech but doesn’t wholly win successful that, and an incumbent assemblage that is resentful and oppressed, is understood here.

Also understood is that it plays retired implicit centuries, not years. Maybe determination are lessons too, arsenic we enactment done our bid and reconciliation process. We’re a much hopeful spot now, even if determination is inactive a fewer 100 years to go.
Paul Healy
Derry