Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Oct 24: Five Italian women activists detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank during the olive harvest were released and repatriated on Saturday morning, Foreign Ministry said.
According to Reuters, the women were detained on Thursday by Israeli police in Kiryat Arba along with other international activists while accompanying Palestinian farmers to protect them during the olive harvest.
Their detention came amid rising violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had demanded the immediate release of the five women on Friday, describing their detention as unacceptable. He said the activists had not committed any crime and expressed hope that they would be sent back to Italy within hours.
Tajani made the remarks to journalists on the sidelines of an international summit in Istanbul on Friday, Reuters reported.
Italy’s diplomatic missions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem had contacted Israeli authorities to seek clarification about the circumstances surrounding the detention and the condition of the Italian nationals.
Italian embassy officials visited the women at the airport on Friday evening and reported that they appeared to be in good physical condition, according to Reuters.
The detention comes amid increasing reports of attacks and intimidation by Israeli settlers against Palestinians during the annual olive harvest. Palestinians, activists and the United Nations have reported a sharp rise in settler violence this year.
Israeli rights group Yesh Din said it had documented more than 330 incidents of settler violence linked to this year’s harvest, which began in late September. The reported incidents included physical attacks, theft and damage to olive trees.
Israeli security services have said they take acts of violence and criminal activity seriously.
Olive cultivation is a major component of Palestinian agriculture and supports livelihoods across the occupied West Bank. According to the Palestinian Authority’s agriculture ministry, the sector accounts for around eight per cent of the Palestinian economy’s gross domestic product and provides more than 60,000 jobs.