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.
