Breaking

The Israeli Defence Force is investigating whether a religious ruling by Rabbi Dov Lior, associated with the Otzma Yehudit party, meets the threshold for criminal incitement and violence offences. The ruling permitted Jewish settlers to harvest olives from Palestinian agricultural land in the West Bank.

The IDF has expressed sharp reservations about the religious decree, stating it ‘encourages violent crimes, theft and incitement’. Military officials believe the matter warrants examination for potential criminal violations under Israeli law.

The ruling has sparked significant controversy within security and legal circles, with the army indicating that permitting such harvesting activities could constitute encouragement of criminal behaviour against Palestinian property owners.

Sources: Walla, Ynet, www.israelhayom.co.il, Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel