Attacks by illegal Israeli settlers surged this year during Palestinian olive harvest in occupied West Bank. Scenes of Palestinians, journalists and diplomats beaten by masked men show how occupiers move deeper into Palestinian communities. They are emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government. At least four Palestinians got killed this season, either by occupiers or Israeli soldiers.

The violence brought new international criticism before Netanyahu faces tight race in next Tuesday elections. But he is doubling down. After a shooting attack in West Bank killed two Israeli soldiers on Friday, Netanyahu praised the occupiers as heroic. He vowed to destroy terror infrastructure and build more settlements.

Olive groves in West Bank are heritage and income for Palestinians. Harvest traditionally was a happy time to gather and be thankful. Abbas Milhem from Palestinian Farmers Union said: “In the past, harvesters would enjoy a month of singing and making tea and coffee in their groves. Now the journey is full of pain and risk.”

But harvest became time of friction as Palestinians pick olives and show their ties to the land. Many illegal Israeli settlers say this land should belong to Israel instead.

Israeli rights group Yesh Din said occupiers destroyed olive trees and stole olives in over 325 incidents this harvest season. The season began in late September. Over 130 incidents involved physical attacks on harvesters. Yesh Din and farmers union call this the most violent harvest in recent history.