FEATURE-Acrid harvest among West Bank olive groves

The protesters are no match for the Israelis, who have automatic weapons and armoured jeeps. Three Palestinians have been shot dead in the West Bank over the past four days, for aiming firebombs at troops, the army says.

"Here we really, really try to avoid any use of lethal force," says Kaho. He relies on an arsenal of gas and stun grenades, or "shock weapons" as he calls them, to keep the stone-throwing attackers at bay.

The olive harvesters are allowed to get on with their work but when the protesters mingle among them "we start to worry".

An ambulance with flashing red light appears higher up the ridge, lurching slowly down a stony track to where someone has apparently been injured.

"They are well organised," says Kaho, 37, who has a livid scar above his left eye from a stone propelled by a Palestinian sling-shot.

The Palestinians say the wall takes big bites out of their land and divides families. Legal challenges have forced a re-routing of some small sections but stone-throwing attacks have not stopped it being built.

The officer sets off to lead his helmeted squad up the dusty hill, through the trees and onto flatter ground. A stun grenade goes bang and the sound of rifles firing follows. Rubber bullets are being used, says another officer.

At a safe distance, by the checkpoint guarding Hashmonaim settlement, about 40 rightwingers have turned out to support the police, waving white-and-blue Israeli flags, singing songs.

One of Kaho's jeeps trundles up onto the tarmac.

"Give them sweets! Give them sweets!" one woman squeals excitedly, pressing a bag of candy on the driver. (Editing by Jon Boyle)