Former Israeli generals condemn settler violence and help Palestinian farmers harvest olives

Summary

Senior former Israeli military officers helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, 3 November, as a gesture of solidarity amid a rise in settler violence against Palestinians. According to Reuters, as carried by Middle East Eye, former Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven began organising a group of around 30 senior military officials, including six generals, several months ago after settler violence increased. Many Palestinians say the Israeli military enables these attacks, and Ben-Reuven compared the settler attacks to pogroms. Former Colonel Doron Meinert said Israeli society must deal with the occupation together with the Palestinians. The Straits Times reports that a rights group has recorded 180 physical attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters since the season began. RTE describes the gesture as taking place amid an upsurge in militant settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Timeline

1. The Straits Times

   3 Nov 2026, 18:12 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that Israeli ex-generals condemned settler violence and helped Palestinian farmers, and that a rights group reported 180 physical attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters since the season began.

2. RTÉ

   3 Nov 2026, 18:45 UTCSource ↗

   RTÉ reports that a group of senior former Israeli military officials helped Palestinian farmers harvest olives in a gesture of solidarity amid an upsurge in militant settler violence targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

3. Middle East Eye

   3 Nov 2026, 19:25 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye, citing Reuters, reports that former Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven organised around 30 senior military officials, including six generals, after an increase in settler violence, and compared the settler attacks to pogroms.