Israeli troops violate Lebanese technical fence, threaten olive pickers

Scores of Israeli soldiers deployed near the barbed-wired border with Lebanon to intimidate farmers in the Lebanese border town of Aitaroun, while they were harvesting olive in Khallat al-Ghamiqa area adjacent to the Occupied Palestine. Failing to move farmers away from the disputed grove near the Blue Line, one of the Zionist regime's officers sent a direct threatening message to the farmers via the international UNIFIL forces, which were deployed in the area and working to keep farmers away, Al-Manar correspondent reported Friday. "However, the Zionists' threats only served to increase the challenge among farmers who have completed their harvest," the reporter said. "Then, the enemy forces brought in mechanized reinforcements and eleven Zionist soldiers crossed the barbed wire and got closer to the grove, which increased tensions between the farmers led by Mayor Haidar Mawasi on one hand, and the occupation soldiers on the other, who directed their guns towards the farmers." The escalation coincided with the arrival of the South of Litani Commander, who called for calm and promised to follow up the issue. Farmers stressed the land is theirs', while the Zionist regime's troops claimed it is included within the Blue Line. Aytaroun mayor confirmed that all lines will not prevent Lebanese farmers from reaching their land.