Israelis campaign against army building roads in nature reserves

Sep 11, 2020

The Israeli army said Sept. 7 that it will halt training in an olive grove in the Upper Galilee region. The ancient grove — cultivated for many years by disabled Israel Defense Forces (IDF) veteran Ilan Rona — is adjacent to a Golani Brigade firing range. Usually, the drills are kept within a strict parameter, but two weeks ago, a firing drill by a Golani unit spilled over into the grove, sparking a bushfire and damaging olive trees 100 years old.

Workers at the grove said that the spill two weeks ago was not the first time that ammunition found its way into the plantation. In fact, it has almost become a habit for them to pick up cast bullets, grenade launchers and other military debris that lies scattered in the area. Dozens of olive tree trunks have been damaged, and some of the old trees have bullet holes. Two trees are completely broken.

“Once it became clear that the training in the new perimeter caused damage in the olive groves adjacent to the firing ranges, the IDF northern command prohibited exercises in this perimeter. These days, the northern command is busy regulating the ensemble of firing ranges vis-a-vis the authorities and vis-a-vis the Israel Land Authority. We deeply regret the damaged caused to Mr. Rona and his family. We will do our outmost to prevent fires and damaging nature, including in firing ranges,” the army stated.

The olive grove story is unusual, but the friction between the army and civilians in farmlands and in nature reserves happens on a daily basis. In most cases, like the Upper Galilee olive grove, a solution or a compromise is reached, at some point. But there are also cases where activists are forced to conduct long campaigns to protect ecological-sensitive areas.

Gilad Gabay, southern region director of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, told Al-Monitor that Israel is a small and crowded country, which is why land use requires constant compromises. “There are about 3 million dunams of nature lands that are also used by the army. A point of friction that requires daily dialogue and cooperation. That’s why the IDF and the Nature and Parks Authority have signed several years ago a covenant that sets the rules for military exercises and military infrastructure. For instance, in an area we consider sensitive in terms of landscape and ecological system, tanks and heavy machinery won’t be allowed — only pedestrian training.”