{
  "id": 15012919,
  "title": "Prominent Israeli rabbi rules Jews may pick olives from Palestinian groves",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/prominent-israeli-rabbi-rules-jews-may-pick-olives-from-palestinian",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T18:22:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/prominent-israeli-rabbi-rules-jews-may-pick-olives-palestinian-groves"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prominent Israeli rabbi Dov Lior announced on Friday that Jews are permitted to harvest olives from Palestinian-owned groves in the occupied West Bank, according to Haaretz. Lior argued that the land rightfully belongs to the Jewish people, asserting that publicly harvesting it serves as a demonstration of Jewish ownership and fulfills a religious obligation to conquer the land. This ruling stands in contrast to a letter issued a week prior by six other Israeli rabbis, who declared that picking olives from Palestinian groves is forbidden as theft. The surge in settler attacks during the olive harvest has intensified, with Israeli rights group Yesh Din recording at least 170 incidents since September 27. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs highlighted the significance of these attacks, noting that access to agricultural land and livelihoods are central issues in Israeli settler violence. The humanitarian organization documented injuries to farmers and the destruction of hundreds of olive trees in several towns within the occupied West Bank.",
  "summary": "Prominent Israeli rabbi rules Jews may pick olives from Palestinian groves Israel’s prominent rabbi Dov Lior ruled on Friday that Jews may pick olives from Palestinian-owned groves in the occupied West Bank, Haaretz reported. Lior claimed the land belongs to the Jewish people, and said harvesting it publicly asserts Jewish ownership and fulfils the religious duty of \"conquering the land.\" The…",
  "key_points": [
    "Israeli rabbi Dov Lior permits Jews to harvest olives from Palestinian groves.",
    "Lior argues land rightfully belongs to Jewish people, fulfilling religious obligation.",
    "Olive harvest attacks rise, with 170 incidents recorded since September 27."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}