Ministry of Agriculture: Jenin Agriculture Directorate holds a preparatory meeting to launch the “Olive 2026” national olive-harvesting campaign, with , security representatives, and agricultural sector partners.

Jenin: September 24, 2026

Jenin Agriculture Directorate held a preparatory meeting today, Thursday, at its headquarters to launch the "Olive 2026" national olive-harvesting campaign. The meeting was attended by the Directorate’s Director General, Engineer Basem Hammad, and the staff, alongside broad participation from official bodies, security agencies, and partner institutions. This initiative is part of national preparations to ensure a successful olive harvest season and to bolster the steadfastness of farmers on their lands.

Participants included representatives from the Commission Against the Wall and Settlements, the General Authority of Civil Affairs, military and civil liaison offices, the Fatiha movement (Jenin), the Civil Defense, the Higher Council for Youth and Sports, the Popular Committee for Refugees, the Insan Association for National Action, Customs Police, and the Police. Also among participants were several partner organizations, including the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC), Ma’an Development Center, and CARE International.

The meeting addressed the field action plan for the season, focusing on supporting farmers in friction zones—specifically those with lands near settlements, and Expansion Wall, and other threatened areas. The plan aims to ensure farmers can access their lands and harvest their crops, while also enhancing field monitoring and coordination among the various participating entities and institutions.

Engineer Basem Hammad, Director General of Jenin Agriculture Directorate, emphasized the importance of advocacy and support campaigns for farmers, highlighting their role in ensuring land access and successful harvests. He stressed the necessity of providing essential support, strengthening field monitoring, and documenting any attacks against farmers or their agricultural lands in cooperation with relevant human rights organizations.

For his part, Ahmed Sadaqa, Deputy Secretary of the Fateh movement in Jenin region, commended the efforts of the Directorate of Agriculture in supporting farmers and addressing their issues and needs. Meanwhile, Wael Al-Bazour, Director of Civil Liaison, emphasized the necessity of coordinating and intensifying efforts and formulating a comprehensive plan to ensure the safety and protection of farmers in targeted areas, enabling them to access their lands and harvest their crops.

The meeting also addressed the provision of harvesting supplies—including electric olive-harvesting machines, ladders, tarpaulins, and public safety equipment—as well as enhancing the participation of local volunteer teams in supporting farmers during the season, thereby fostering synergy among official, civil society, and community institutions.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a local committee was formed to oversee the implementation of the national olive-harvesting campaign plan in Jenin Governorate.

The Ministry of Agriculture affirms that these preparations are part of the "Olive 2026" national olive-harvesting campaign plan, implemented by the Ministry in collaboration with various partners. This initiative reflects the significance of the olive season as a national milestone for strengthening farmers' resilience and protecting the land, as well as a cornerstone of food security and the Palestinian agricultural economy.