About 40 beehives belonging to veteran beekeepers from Kibbutz Ein Harod Meuhad in the Upper Galilee were destroyed in what appears to be an act of agricultural terror shortly before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
An unidentified white powder believed to be a toxic substance was found scattered at the entrances to the hives, killing hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions of bees.
Millions of bees poisoned in suspected terrorism ahead of Rosh Hashanah
(Video: Ein Harod Apiary)
Michael Beeri, a fieldworker for the kibbutz's apiary and a member of Kibbutz Tirat Zvi, said he was devastated by the discovery.
“We arrived yesterday to check on the hives and were horrified to find all the bees in all 40 hives dead,” he said. “We found a white powder that had been spread at the entrances to every hive. It’s an enormous loss; each hive can contain up to 50,000 bees. Across 40 hives, that’s potentially millions.”
The hives were slated to supply honey for the holiday season. “It’s heartbreaking, it’s infuriating. This is our livelihood, and it happened just before the holiday,” Beeri said. “That honey was meant to be on Jewish families’ tables for Rosh Hashanah.”
Samples of the powder have been sent to a lab for testing. Beeri said neither he nor his manager, who has over 35 years of experience, had ever encountered such a lethal substance.
“We sometimes deal with theft or vandalism, but never anything like this,” he said. “This is malicious and destructive on another level. After a tough drought year and constant battles with pests and disease, it’s deeply painful.”
Beeri added that “It doesn’t seem like a competitor did this,” he said. “It looks like someone who doesn’t want to see Zionist Israeli agriculture thrive.”
The Ein Harod Apiary, established over 100 years ago, is one of the oldest in the country, managing thousands of hives across northern and central Israel.
Staff members visit each hive at least once a week to monitor its condition. "During every visit, we make sure the hive is in good shape, and if necessary, we administer medical treatment to the bees," explained Beeri.
The kibbutz filed a formal complaint with the police and the Border Police. The case has also been referred to Hashomer Hachadash, a volunteer-based organization that was established to protect agricultural lands. They are working to bolster hive security and prevent future agricultural attacks.