Personal note: It is a bad headline that gives the impression the Israeli government is doing this, but we can't alter them here in I/P.
Israelis Help Palestinian Harvesters to Ease Their Consciences
By Julie Stahl
CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief
November 26, 2003
Dir Istyia, West Bank (CNSNews.com) - Why would Israeli civilians help Palestinians harvest their olive crops in the West Bank? They do it to ease their consciences as well as for political reasons, volunteer pickers told CNSNews.com.
A group called Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR) has been taking small groups of Israeli and international volunteers to stand with the Palestinians, protecting them from harassment by Israeli settlers and the army.
"Our presence is the right and just and Jewish thing to do," said Rabbi Arik Ascherman, executive director of RHR.
While the goal of the group is not political, Ascherman said, RHR does hope to change Israeli policy so that "Israel is doing the right thing," he said.
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=%5CCulture%5Carchive%5C200311%5CCUL20031126a.html