World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Rabbi Dov Lior says Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian land
Rabbi Dov Lior said Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian land in a ruling issued on Friday.
Lior, a hardline rabbi and former chief rabbi of Kiryat Arba, argued that the land belongs to the Jewish people and that harvesting olives can demonstrate that claim.
The ruling drew condemnation from Tzohar, a group of moderate religious Zionist rabbis, who said taking another person’s property is forbidden regardless of their religion.
The ruling responded to a letter by rabbis from Gush Etzion who said eating Palestinian olives was theft and a desecration of God’s name.
The dispute comes during the annual West Bank olive harvest, a period marked by violence, including attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinians harvesting their crops.
Settler violence has drawn growing international criticism, while Israel’s government has described it as the actions of a small number of people.
The sources describe no next step in the dispute.
Rabbi Dov Lior ruled that Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian land.
He said harvesting olives can demonstrate Jewish ownership of the land and fulfill a religious commandment.
The ruling prompted condemnation from Tzohar, a group of moderate religious Zionist rabbis.
Tzohar said theft is forbidden and individuals cannot decide to confiscate other people’s property.
The annual West Bank olive harvest is a flashpoint for violence, including attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinians.
- Who
- Rabbi Dov Lior issued the ruling. Tzohar criticized it.
- What
- Lior said Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian land.
- When
- Friday; the article was published on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- Palestinian lands in the West Bank.
- Why
- Lior said harvesting olives would demonstrate Jewish ownership of the land and fulfill the commandment to conquer it.
Rabbi Dov Lior
Tzohar
Ownership
Rabbi Dov Lior
Lior said the land remained under Jewish ownership and was stolen by Arabs.
Tzohar
Tzohar said individuals cannot decide to confiscate other people’s property.
Harvesting olives
Rabbi Dov Lior
Lior said Jews may harvest olives to demonstrate ownership and fulfill a commandment.
Tzohar
Tzohar said theft is forbidden, whether from a Jew or a non-Jew.
A small group of rabbis from Gush Etzion signed a letter saying that eating Palestinian olives was theft and a desecration of God’s name.
Dov Lior issued a ruling saying Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian land.
Violence occurred during the annual West Bank olive harvest.
- Ruling
- Jews may harvest olives from Palestinian lands
- Rabbi
- Dov Lior, former chief rabbi of Kiryat Arba
- Critic
- Tzohar, a group of moderate religious Zionist rabbis
- Publication date
- October 17, 2026
- Harvest setting
- West Bank
1 source
What people are saying
in areas far away from Jewish communities to publicly demonstrate our ownership of the land, and in doing so fulfilling the commandment to conquer the land
theft is forbidden from anyone, Jew or non-Jew alike
a desecration of God’s name