Clarification: temporary road closures to protect olive pickers
Ref: BAC-OUT-2026-010 · Date: 11 October 2026
To the people of Birzeit and the surrounding areas, and everyone who uses the town's roads,
The Agricultural Committee addresses the people of Birzeit, the surrounding areas and road users to explain why roads have been closed with earth barriers (rubble mounds), and to answer the questions and comments it has received about this measure.
The committee took this measure to protect families who go out to harvest their olives from attacks by settlers. The closure was carried out in direct coordination with, and with the approval of, the competent official authorities.
Since the roads were closed, the measure has served its purpose: it has hindered settlers' movement and delayed their arrival at the lands long enough for the people working there to organise themselves to withdraw or to stand their ground.
The committee recognises that closing these roads causes real hardship for a number of people, especially those who live nearby or use them every day to reach their homes, work and land. It understands their frustration and takes their comments seriously. However, the committee weighed this temporary hardship against the danger people face on their land, and concluded that people's safety comes before ease of movement during this period.
The committee stresses that this measure is temporary and tied to the olive season only.
As for calls to open the roads individually, without referring to the committee and the official authorities, the committee cannot accept them. Opening any road before the season ends puts those working on the lands next to it in direct danger, and removes the protection the closure gives everyone else.
The committee calls on everyone to disregard the rumours and incitement surrounding this issue. It also calls on the relevant security services to trace the sources of the sectarian, family-based and regional incitement now circulating, which threatens our national unity and civil peace.
The committee asks our people to show understanding, patience, solidarity and steadfastness for the rest of the season, so that we can finish harvesting our olives in peace and attempts to disrupt it do not succeed.
Birzeit Agricultural Committee