10 oct 2014
Each time Palestinian farmers try to pass through the separation wall's gates towards their olive fields they face tough Israeli measures such as: checking IDs, searching belongings and insulting and humiliating them.
Mahmoud Eshteya, one of the farmers whose land was separated from Salfit town by the wall, told the PIC: "We passionately yearn for the olive harvest season each year, but this happiness has been turned into a daily suffering throughout the season".
He said, describing one of those harvesting days: "At about 4:30 am. I prepared everything I need for olive harvesting, and headed to the gate the Israeli soldiers specified for us to cross the wall that separates our lands from where we live, and after a long time of wait an Israeli army jeep showed up and a soldier opened the gate and asked us to show our IDs, confiscated them and scrutinized all our belongings".
The occupation also specified the entry and return hours, Eshteya pointed out, adding: "The soldier was inspecting us while insulting and yelling at us, then he confiscated our IDs and only returned them back when we finished and returned, and then he told us that we have to return before 4:00 pm, otherwise they will not allow us to pass through the gate."
For his part, Ahmad Mawqedy, a farmer from west Salfit, said:" We used to enter our fields whenever we wanted, we could even sleep there but now we need a permit and a humiliating inspection".
Ali Naser, another farmer from Salfit, also complained about being humiliated by the soldiers while passing through the wall, and mentioned some Israeli provocative practices, such as humiliating inspections, blowing their sirens, confiscating the farmers' IDs and yelling at them.
Another farmer, Khalil Hasan, said:" The soldiers are stealing our happiness, they prevent us from leaving through the wall even if a farmer has an accident like a snake bite or falling from a tree".
Khalid Ma'ali, a researcher, said: "Extremist Israeli settlers escalate their attacks against Palestinian olive groves as the olive harvest season begins. Yesterday they cut scores of olive trees in eastern Salfit".
Talking about the negative effects of the wall on the Palestinians' lands, Ma'ali said: "Farmers' risks are really high, and the rates are growing. For example, the segregation wall confiscated 95% of the land of Mas-ha village (about 5500 acres)."
He added that two-thirds of Salfit land were either confiscated by the Israeli occupation authorities or forcibly left without farming, while thousands of acres behind the separation wall are susceptible to bulldozing and settlement expansion.
Mahmoud Eshteya, one of the farmers whose land was separated from Salfit town by the wall, told the PIC: "We passionately yearn for the olive harvest season each year, but this happiness has been turned into a daily suffering throughout the season".
He said, describing one of those harvesting days: "At about 4:30 am. I prepared everything I need for olive harvesting, and headed to the gate the Israeli soldiers specified for us to cross the wall that separates our lands from where we live, and after a long time of wait an Israeli army jeep showed up and a soldier opened the gate and asked us to show our IDs, confiscated them and scrutinized all our belongings".
The occupation also specified the entry and return hours, Eshteya pointed out, adding: "The soldier was inspecting us while insulting and yelling at us, then he confiscated our IDs and only returned them back when we finished and returned, and then he told us that we have to return before 4:00 pm, otherwise they will not allow us to pass through the gate."
For his part, Ahmad Mawqedy, a farmer from west Salfit, said:" We used to enter our fields whenever we wanted, we could even sleep there but now we need a permit and a humiliating inspection".
Ali Naser, another farmer from Salfit, also complained about being humiliated by the soldiers while passing through the wall, and mentioned some Israeli provocative practices, such as humiliating inspections, blowing their sirens, confiscating the farmers' IDs and yelling at them.
Another farmer, Khalil Hasan, said:" The soldiers are stealing our happiness, they prevent us from leaving through the wall even if a farmer has an accident like a snake bite or falling from a tree".
Khalid Ma'ali, a researcher, said: "Extremist Israeli settlers escalate their attacks against Palestinian olive groves as the olive harvest season begins. Yesterday they cut scores of olive trees in eastern Salfit".
Talking about the negative effects of the wall on the Palestinians' lands, Ma'ali said: "Farmers' risks are really high, and the rates are growing. For example, the segregation wall confiscated 95% of the land of Mas-ha village (about 5500 acres)."
He added that two-thirds of Salfit land were either confiscated by the Israeli occupation authorities or forcibly left without farming, while thousands of acres behind the separation wall are susceptible to bulldozing and settlement expansion.
9 oct 2014
A number of extremist Israeli settlers invaded Palestinian orchards near the West Bank city of Bethlehem, before cutting and uprooting dozens of olive trees.
Hasan Breijiyya, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in the Bethlehem district, stated the settlers came from Beitar Illit illegal settlement, built on Palestinian lands belonging to residents of Nahhalin, Husan and Wadi Fokkin, and uprooted around 38 olive trees, and harvested them.
The settlers also cut around 200 olive trees belonging to Mahmoud ‘Atiyya Shousha, in Ebtat nearby area, next to the settlement.
Breijiyya said Israeli soldiers and settlers have escalated their attacks against Palestinian orchards, west of Bethlehem, by illegally occupying orchards, uprooting trees and burning them, especially in orchards that became surrounded by the Beit Illit settlement, and close to it.
On Tuesday, October 7, a number of settlers torched 30 olive trees dating from Roman times, in the village of Nahhalin.
Hasan Breijiyya, coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in the Bethlehem district, stated the settlers came from Beitar Illit illegal settlement, built on Palestinian lands belonging to residents of Nahhalin, Husan and Wadi Fokkin, and uprooted around 38 olive trees, and harvested them.
The settlers also cut around 200 olive trees belonging to Mahmoud ‘Atiyya Shousha, in Ebtat nearby area, next to the settlement.
Breijiyya said Israeli soldiers and settlers have escalated their attacks against Palestinian orchards, west of Bethlehem, by illegally occupying orchards, uprooting trees and burning them, especially in orchards that became surrounded by the Beit Illit settlement, and close to it.
On Tuesday, October 7, a number of settlers torched 30 olive trees dating from Roman times, in the village of Nahhalin.
Dozens of Israeli settlers clashed with Palestinian farmers, on Thursday evening, in the Yanun valley, near the village of Aqraba, to the south of Nablus.
PA official, Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an News Agency that several Israeli settlers from Itamar attacked dozens of Palestinian farmers and attempted to steal their olive crop, which belongs to the Abu Rinan family.
Clashes subsequently broke out, though no injuries were reported.
Villages south of Nablus are frequently targeted with settler violence and ensuing clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces, as these villages are located beside the notoriously violent (and illegal) Israeli settlements of Yitzhar, Bracha, and Itamar.
Settlers frequently attack a number of local villages, destroying crops and preventing farmers from reaching their lands, according to United Nations statistics.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank is systematic and backed by the negligence of Israeli authorities, who rarely intervene in the violent attacks or prosecute the perpetrators.
Ma'an further reports that, in the year 2013 alone, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
PA official, Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an News Agency that several Israeli settlers from Itamar attacked dozens of Palestinian farmers and attempted to steal their olive crop, which belongs to the Abu Rinan family.
Clashes subsequently broke out, though no injuries were reported.
Villages south of Nablus are frequently targeted with settler violence and ensuing clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces, as these villages are located beside the notoriously violent (and illegal) Israeli settlements of Yitzhar, Bracha, and Itamar.
Settlers frequently attack a number of local villages, destroying crops and preventing farmers from reaching their lands, according to United Nations statistics.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank is systematic and backed by the negligence of Israeli authorities, who rarely intervene in the violent attacks or prosecute the perpetrators.
Ma'an further reports that, in the year 2013 alone, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
8 oct 2014
Palestinian medical sources have reported, on Tuesday evening, that a man was injured after a number of extremists Israeli settlers attacked villagers who were picking their olive trees, in Palestinian orchards at Burin village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
Local sources said that the man, identified as Mahmoud Raja, suffered several injuries after being struck by stones thrown by the settlers as he was picking his olive trees with his family.
The sources added that the settlers tried to remove the villagers from their own orchards before Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked the villagers instead of removing the assailing fanatic settlers.
On Monday, a number of settlers cut off the branches of 100 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the Bani Yasouf village, near Nablus. The settlers came from the illegal settlement of Taffouh.
Another group of settlers also damaged 20 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the village of Awarta, near Nablus.
Fanatic settler groups usually escalate their attacks against the villagers during and shortly before the olive harvest season.
Besides physical attacks against the Palestinians, the settlers carry out repeated attacks which include cutting dozens of trees, burning orchards and farmlands, and even flooding farmlands with settlement sewage.
Palestinian Family Attacked by Settlers While Harvesting Olives
Local sources said that the man, identified as Mahmoud Raja, suffered several injuries after being struck by stones thrown by the settlers as he was picking his olive trees with his family.
The sources added that the settlers tried to remove the villagers from their own orchards before Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked the villagers instead of removing the assailing fanatic settlers.
On Monday, a number of settlers cut off the branches of 100 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the Bani Yasouf village, near Nablus. The settlers came from the illegal settlement of Taffouh.
Another group of settlers also damaged 20 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the village of Awarta, near Nablus.
Fanatic settler groups usually escalate their attacks against the villagers during and shortly before the olive harvest season.
Besides physical attacks against the Palestinians, the settlers carry out repeated attacks which include cutting dozens of trees, burning orchards and farmlands, and even flooding farmlands with settlement sewage.
Palestinian Family Attacked by Settlers While Harvesting Olives
Tuesday afternoon, the 7th of October, olive farmer Mahmoud Rga Mahoud Aid, his wife and their three children were attacked by a group of settlers from the illegal settlement of Giv’at Ya’akov. The attack took place on the family´s land near the village of Burin, south west of Nablus.
The the family had only three days permission from the District Coordination Office (DCO) to access their land and pick their olives, starting from the 6th of October. To harvest all the olives on the land would normally take about a month.
On the first day of picking, Zionist settlers came down from the illegal settlement and tried to prevent Mahmoud from entering his land. The Israeli military interfered and told the settlers to leave, and Mahmoud was able to finish his working day without further interference from the settlers.
On the second day of picking the family was able to access the land, but, in the midst of picking, the nearby soldiers started yelling at them, ”They are coming, they are coming for you!”
Mahmoud looked up and saw five male settlers wearing masks coming down from the hill towards him and his family. The settlers started throwing rocks at them and Mahmoud tried to protect his family by covering them with the tarpaulin used to collect the olives in. This helped for a while, but the settlers came closer and physically attacked Mahmoud. They continuously hit him in the chest, stomach and the head, and his foot was badly bruised by a stone thrown by the settlers.
The Israeli soldiers watched the settlers attack the family, but didn’t react until a considerable amount of time had passed. Eventually they came down from the hill and told the settlers to leave the area.
Mahmoud walked down the hill, wounded, and was stopped by another group of soldiers who detained him for allegedly attacking the settlers and “causing trouble”. The commander called one of the soldiers that witnessed the attack and even though this soldier told the truth, stating that Mahmoud was attacked, the commander asked for Mahmoud’s passport number and personal information to make a file on him. Furthermore, Mahmoud lost his permission for the third and last day of olive picking.
Over a period of ten years, illegal settlers have destroyed approximately 240 olive trees owned by the family. They have about 60 trees left and the settlers keep taking over more and more of their land. As mentioned before, they are permitted a very short time to harvest olives from their trees so a lot of the olives goes to waste which ultimately effects the families income. Mahmoud is afraid that the settlers are planning to destroy all the trees so the family will not have any reason to enter the land the settlers are slowly taking over. Mahmoud anticipates the settler harassment to escalate in the olive harvest high season, which is in two weeks.
The the family had only three days permission from the District Coordination Office (DCO) to access their land and pick their olives, starting from the 6th of October. To harvest all the olives on the land would normally take about a month.
On the first day of picking, Zionist settlers came down from the illegal settlement and tried to prevent Mahmoud from entering his land. The Israeli military interfered and told the settlers to leave, and Mahmoud was able to finish his working day without further interference from the settlers.
On the second day of picking the family was able to access the land, but, in the midst of picking, the nearby soldiers started yelling at them, ”They are coming, they are coming for you!”
Mahmoud looked up and saw five male settlers wearing masks coming down from the hill towards him and his family. The settlers started throwing rocks at them and Mahmoud tried to protect his family by covering them with the tarpaulin used to collect the olives in. This helped for a while, but the settlers came closer and physically attacked Mahmoud. They continuously hit him in the chest, stomach and the head, and his foot was badly bruised by a stone thrown by the settlers.
The Israeli soldiers watched the settlers attack the family, but didn’t react until a considerable amount of time had passed. Eventually they came down from the hill and told the settlers to leave the area.
Mahmoud walked down the hill, wounded, and was stopped by another group of soldiers who detained him for allegedly attacking the settlers and “causing trouble”. The commander called one of the soldiers that witnessed the attack and even though this soldier told the truth, stating that Mahmoud was attacked, the commander asked for Mahmoud’s passport number and personal information to make a file on him. Furthermore, Mahmoud lost his permission for the third and last day of olive picking.
Over a period of ten years, illegal settlers have destroyed approximately 240 olive trees owned by the family. They have about 60 trees left and the settlers keep taking over more and more of their land. As mentioned before, they are permitted a very short time to harvest olives from their trees so a lot of the olives goes to waste which ultimately effects the families income. Mahmoud is afraid that the settlers are planning to destroy all the trees so the family will not have any reason to enter the land the settlers are slowly taking over. Mahmoud anticipates the settler harassment to escalate in the olive harvest high season, which is in two weeks.
7 oct 2014
Hordes of Israeli extremist settlers on Monday launched rounds of abrupt mass-assaults on the West Bank cities of Nablus and Salfit and wreaked havoc on Palestinians’ cultivated lands. A PIC correspondent said the settler bunches have deliberately ravaged Palestinians’ olive groves and expropriated loads of the reaped crops right after having raided Bourin and Ourata towns, south of Nablus, and Yasouf village, to the east of Salfit.
Israeli settler attacks, stepped up during the olive season, often culminated in forced kicking out of Palestinian farmers, expropriation of cultivated harvest, and chopping down dozens of fruitful trees, as has already been the case many times before.
Israeli settler attacks, stepped up during the olive season, often culminated in forced kicking out of Palestinian farmers, expropriation of cultivated harvest, and chopping down dozens of fruitful trees, as has already been the case many times before.
6 oct 2014
Israeli settlers attacked, on Monday, a Palestinian-owned olive grove near the northern West Bank district of Nablus.
The settlers cut off the branches of 100 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the Bani Yasouf village, near Nablus.
The settlers came from the illegal settlement of Tafouh.
Another group of settlers also damaged 20 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the village of Awarta, also near Nablus.
Local sources are reporting an increase of attacks on Palestinian farmers by Israeli settlers since the olive harvest season began three days ago.
The settlers cut off the branches of 100 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the Bani Yasouf village, near Nablus.
The settlers came from the illegal settlement of Tafouh.
Another group of settlers also damaged 20 olive trees owned by Palestinian farmers from the village of Awarta, also near Nablus.
Local sources are reporting an increase of attacks on Palestinian farmers by Israeli settlers since the olive harvest season began three days ago.
13 sept 2014
Israeli occupation forces (IOF) escorted huge bulldozers into Kifl Hares, south west of Salfit province, on Saturday morning and leveled land. Eyewitnesses said that the bulldozers razed olive trees to pave the way for expanding a power station supplying Jewish settlements in Salfit with electricity.
They said that the bulldozers broke and destroyed olive trees during their work, adding that the Israeli attempt to appropriate and annex more Palestinian land in the province never ceased.
They said that the bulldozers broke and destroyed olive trees during their work, adding that the Israeli attempt to appropriate and annex more Palestinian land in the province never ceased.
14 july 2014
A gang of Israeli extremist settlers burned down dozens of Palestinian olive trees in Hawara town, south of Nablus, and in Barta’a, in Jenin. Eye-witnesses told a PIC correspondent that hordes of Yitzhar settlers set fire to Palestinian olive trees in al-Laf area, near Hawara town.
Several trees were reduced to ashes as a result of the fires that spread out quickly, the witnesses added.
In a related event, the Israeli occupation troops set fire to Palestinian agricultural lands in eastern Barta’a, in Jenin, leading to severe material damage.
Violent clashes broke out between the landowners and the IOF soldiers in the process.
The IOF soldiers have been cordoning off the industrial and commercial zone in the village.
Dozens of Palestinian civilians were rushed to hospital as they inhaled tear gas fired by the IOF throughout the clashes.
Several trees were reduced to ashes as a result of the fires that spread out quickly, the witnesses added.
In a related event, the Israeli occupation troops set fire to Palestinian agricultural lands in eastern Barta’a, in Jenin, leading to severe material damage.
Violent clashes broke out between the landowners and the IOF soldiers in the process.
The IOF soldiers have been cordoning off the industrial and commercial zone in the village.
Dozens of Palestinian civilians were rushed to hospital as they inhaled tear gas fired by the IOF throughout the clashes.
1 july 2014
Settlers from Bat Ayn on Mt. Hebron chopped down 15 olive trees on Monday
The Israeli military leveled lands in Kfar a-Dik, a Palestinian village in the Salfit district of the central West Bank, locals reported. On Monday settlers chopped down olive trees north of Beit Ummar, in the Hebron district.
According to Khalid Maali, a local researcher in the central West Bank , an Israeli court had approved confiscation of 3,000 dunams of land. The bulldozers, however, leveled an area of more than 10,000 dunams (2,500 acres).
Israeli settlers chopped down 15 olive trees in the Abu Ar-Rish valley to the north of Beit Ummar on Monday .
Mohammad ‘Ayyad, a spokesperson for the local popular committee against settlements, said the damage was carried out by settlers from the nearby Bat Ayn.
Although an Israeli court ruled that the Palestinian owner of this land install a barbed wire fence around his approximately 80 dunam area to protect it against settler attacks, Israeli forces have obstructed the implementation of this ruling, allowing settlers to continue their attacks unabated.
The Israeli military leveled lands in Kfar a-Dik, a Palestinian village in the Salfit district of the central West Bank, locals reported. On Monday settlers chopped down olive trees north of Beit Ummar, in the Hebron district.
According to Khalid Maali, a local researcher in the central West Bank , an Israeli court had approved confiscation of 3,000 dunams of land. The bulldozers, however, leveled an area of more than 10,000 dunams (2,500 acres).
Israeli settlers chopped down 15 olive trees in the Abu Ar-Rish valley to the north of Beit Ummar on Monday .
Mohammad ‘Ayyad, a spokesperson for the local popular committee against settlements, said the damage was carried out by settlers from the nearby Bat Ayn.
Although an Israeli court ruled that the Palestinian owner of this land install a barbed wire fence around his approximately 80 dunam area to protect it against settler attacks, Israeli forces have obstructed the implementation of this ruling, allowing settlers to continue their attacks unabated.
29 june 2014
Israeli bulldozers on Sunday leveled Palestinian lands in the Salfit district in the central West Bank, locals said.
Witnesses said bulldozers uprooted dozens of olive trees and fruit trees in the Thahir Subih neighborhood of Kafr al-Dik.
Local researcher Khalid Maali said that an Israeli court had approved confiscation of 3,000 dunams (750 acres) of private Palestinian land, but that the bulldozers had leveled an area of more than 10,000 dunams (2,500 acres).
A spokesperson for Israel's civil administration said in an email to Ma'an that ''works are currently taking place at the site for the agricultural development of the region with the state's approval."
"No tree uprootings were registered at the site. The lands in question are state lands and not private Palestinian lands," the spokesperson said, without providing further details.
Israeli authorities regularly declare private Palestinian lands or historically communal lands used by Palestinians in the West Bank as Israeli state land for settlement construction and expansion.
Witnesses said bulldozers uprooted dozens of olive trees and fruit trees in the Thahir Subih neighborhood of Kafr al-Dik.
Local researcher Khalid Maali said that an Israeli court had approved confiscation of 3,000 dunams (750 acres) of private Palestinian land, but that the bulldozers had leveled an area of more than 10,000 dunams (2,500 acres).
A spokesperson for Israel's civil administration said in an email to Ma'an that ''works are currently taking place at the site for the agricultural development of the region with the state's approval."
"No tree uprootings were registered at the site. The lands in question are state lands and not private Palestinian lands," the spokesperson said, without providing further details.
Israeli authorities regularly declare private Palestinian lands or historically communal lands used by Palestinians in the West Bank as Israeli state land for settlement construction and expansion.
7 june 2014
Farmland Burnt By Israeli Fire Near Bethlehem
Palestinian medical sources have reported that several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and one child was injured, during clashes with Israeli soldiers in front of the Ofer Israeli Prison, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and near the Qalandia terminal.
Eyewitnesses told the WAFA Palestinian news agency that the soldiers violently assaulted nonviolent protesters in front of the Ofer prison, leading to clashes between the soldiers and the protesters.
The army fired rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens of gas bombs, causing scores of Palestinians to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Medical sources said the soldiers also kidnapped Maher Haroun, 17 years of age, and took him to an unknown destination.
The Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that clashes also took place near the Qalandia terminal, south of Ramallah, and that the soldiers fired several gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated metal bullets.
Dozens of residents received treatment for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, soldiers attacked Palestinian protesters in Teqoua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at them.
Local sources said many bombs set off by the soldiers caused fire in dozens of dunams of farmlands planted with wheat barley and olive trees.
Palestinian medical sources have reported that several Palestinians suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation, and one child was injured, during clashes with Israeli soldiers in front of the Ofer Israeli Prison, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, and near the Qalandia terminal.
Eyewitnesses told the WAFA Palestinian news agency that the soldiers violently assaulted nonviolent protesters in front of the Ofer prison, leading to clashes between the soldiers and the protesters.
The army fired rubber-coated metal bullets and dozens of gas bombs, causing scores of Palestinians to suffer the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Medical sources said the soldiers also kidnapped Maher Haroun, 17 years of age, and took him to an unknown destination.
The Radio Bethlehem 2000 has reported that clashes also took place near the Qalandia terminal, south of Ramallah, and that the soldiers fired several gas bombs, concussion grenades, and rubber-coated metal bullets.
Dozens of residents received treatment for the effects of tear gas inhalation.
In related news, soldiers attacked Palestinian protesters in Teqoua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, and fired gas bombs and concussion grenades at them.
Local sources said many bombs set off by the soldiers caused fire in dozens of dunams of farmlands planted with wheat barley and olive trees.
5 june 2014
Jewish settlers set alight perennial olive trees in the Old City of al-Khalil on Wednesday, local sources reported. They said that the settlers torched the olive trees belonging to the Eqnaibi family in Tal al-Rumaida, in the southern suburb of the city, adding that they are thousands of years old.
Settlers hope that their recurrent attacks would force the Palestinian natives to abandon their land and homes and leave them for those settlers.
Settlers hope that their recurrent attacks would force the Palestinian natives to abandon their land and homes and leave them for those settlers.
4 june 2014
Israeli settlers set fire to dozens of olive trees in the Palestinian villages of Farata and Immatin west of Nablus on Wednesday, a local official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors settlement activities in the West Bank, told Ma'an that "a number of settlers from the Havat Gilad settlement burned dozens of trees and the fire spread in the area" in a targeted attack on local villagers.
Daghlas also told Ma'an that "Palestinian civil defense was trying to reach the area to put out the fire."
Havat Gilad ("Gilad's Farm") is a small Jewish outpost located on a main road just east of a large settlement block, while the two villages are caught between the two.
Havat Gilad settlers frequently attack local villages, torching cars, hurling rocks, and destroying olive trees, the economic mainstay of many area villages.
In 2013, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian Authority official who monitors settlement activities in the West Bank, told Ma'an that "a number of settlers from the Havat Gilad settlement burned dozens of trees and the fire spread in the area" in a targeted attack on local villagers.
Daghlas also told Ma'an that "Palestinian civil defense was trying to reach the area to put out the fire."
Havat Gilad ("Gilad's Farm") is a small Jewish outpost located on a main road just east of a large settlement block, while the two villages are caught between the two.
Havat Gilad settlers frequently attack local villages, torching cars, hurling rocks, and destroying olive trees, the economic mainstay of many area villages.
In 2013, there were 399 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Over 90 percent of investigations into settler violence by Israeli police fail to lead to an indictment.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
26 may 2014
Israeli settlers uprooted dozens of olive trees in the northern West Bank on Monday, a Palestinian official said.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors settler activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that Israelis from the settlement of Eli destroyed 30 olive trees in the village of Qaryut south of Nablus.
The trees were located in the al-Mwajeh and al-Marah areas of the village and belonged to Hassan Nimr, Marouh Hamdan, and Othman Suleiman, Daghlas said.
The area around the villages south of Nablus is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Ghassan Daghlas, a Palestinian official who monitors settler activity in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an that Israelis from the settlement of Eli destroyed 30 olive trees in the village of Qaryut south of Nablus.
The trees were located in the al-Mwajeh and al-Marah areas of the village and belonged to Hassan Nimr, Marouh Hamdan, and Othman Suleiman, Daghlas said.
The area around the villages south of Nablus is a frequent site of settler violence and Palestinian clashes with Israeli forces.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
19 may 2014
Israeli bulldozers leveled large tracts of Palestinian land in the Bethlehem-area village of Nahalin on Monday, locals said.
Head of the village council, Majid Ghayatha, told Ma'an that Israeli bulldozers uprooted dozens of olive and almond trees in the Wad Salem area.
Several grapevines were also destroyed.
Israeli military forces deployed on hilltops above the village to prevent land owners from accessing their fields.
Locals told Ma'an that they believe Israeli forces are clearing land for a new road connecting the Neve Daniel and Beitar Ilit settlements.
A spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories did not answer calls seeking comment.
Head of the village council, Majid Ghayatha, told Ma'an that Israeli bulldozers uprooted dozens of olive and almond trees in the Wad Salem area.
Several grapevines were also destroyed.
Israeli military forces deployed on hilltops above the village to prevent land owners from accessing their fields.
Locals told Ma'an that they believe Israeli forces are clearing land for a new road connecting the Neve Daniel and Beitar Ilit settlements.
A spokesman for Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories did not answer calls seeking comment.
Several Israeli military jeeps, accompanied by a military bulldozer, invaded Tel Romedia area, in the center of the southern West Bank city of Hebron, where they demolished a wall surrounding a Palestinian home, and uprooted a nearby Palestinian land.
Resident Feryal Abu Haykal told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that personnel of the so-called “Israeli Department of Antiquities” accompanied by several Israeli jeeps surrounded her father’s home, and demolished its wall.
She added that the army also uprooted farmland belonging to her father, and informed the family that the digging is part of “archaeological excavations”.
Abu Haykal told WAFA that the soldiers also wanted to uproot and confiscate a thousand-year-old olive tree, in her father’s yard, but the family managed to save it.
Resident Feryal Abu Haykal told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that personnel of the so-called “Israeli Department of Antiquities” accompanied by several Israeli jeeps surrounded her father’s home, and demolished its wall.
She added that the army also uprooted farmland belonging to her father, and informed the family that the digging is part of “archaeological excavations”.
Abu Haykal told WAFA that the soldiers also wanted to uproot and confiscate a thousand-year-old olive tree, in her father’s yard, but the family managed to save it.
18 may 2014
More than 17 olives trees were completely knocked down on Saturday by a horde of Israeli extremist settlers in Palestinians’ native lands in Um al-Rayhan village south-west of Jenin. Sheikh Nafaa Zaid Al-Kilani, a targeted landowner told PIC: “I’ve been told by a shepherd who comes to graze his sheep in the area that my olive trees have been wrecked. I was shocked when I caught sight of 17 olive trees, more than 10-years old each, reduced to rubble.”
Nafaa’s land is located at the southern corner of Khilet Al-Eis, one of the largest forest areas in the West Bank.
“The Israeli occupation erected a checkpoint between West Bank and 48 occupied Palestine areas, where large herds of wild pigs were released, preventing Palestinian farmers from planting their lands. The boars wreck whatever comes in their way, even the small plants that Palestinian farmers have tried by all means to preserve,” Sheikh Nafaa further maintained
Um al-Rayhan village is a home to 500 citizens, all Zaid Kilani’s offspring, surrounded by Israeli settlement from all sides.
Nafaa’s land is located at the southern corner of Khilet Al-Eis, one of the largest forest areas in the West Bank.
“The Israeli occupation erected a checkpoint between West Bank and 48 occupied Palestine areas, where large herds of wild pigs were released, preventing Palestinian farmers from planting their lands. The boars wreck whatever comes in their way, even the small plants that Palestinian farmers have tried by all means to preserve,” Sheikh Nafaa further maintained
Um al-Rayhan village is a home to 500 citizens, all Zaid Kilani’s offspring, surrounded by Israeli settlement from all sides.
Israeli settlers set fire to a private Palestinian field in the Tel Rumeida neighborhood in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday night as part of a celebration for the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer.
Settlers circled around the field and watched as the fire burned olive trees, in a field that locals said belongs to the Iqneibi family.
Some of the settlers reportedly assaulted a cameraman who works for the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz as he tried to take film the fire.
Lag BaOmer marks the the death of a 2nd century sage associated with Jewish mysticism, and is traditionally marked with bonfires.
Activist and co-founder of the Hebron activist group Youth against Settlements Issa Amro told Ma'an that Israeli settlers have recently been harassing and assaulting the Palestinian residents of Tel Rumeida in an attempt to scare them and get them to leave their houses and lands.
Hebron is a frequent site of tensions due to the presence of around 500 Israeli settlers in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants.
Tel Rumeida hosts one of the most militant Jewish settlements in the city, and locals complain of near daily harassment and attacks by the groups, who are under heavy Israeli military protection.
Settlers circled around the field and watched as the fire burned olive trees, in a field that locals said belongs to the Iqneibi family.
Some of the settlers reportedly assaulted a cameraman who works for the Israeli daily newspaper Haaretz as he tried to take film the fire.
Lag BaOmer marks the the death of a 2nd century sage associated with Jewish mysticism, and is traditionally marked with bonfires.
Activist and co-founder of the Hebron activist group Youth against Settlements Issa Amro told Ma'an that Israeli settlers have recently been harassing and assaulting the Palestinian residents of Tel Rumeida in an attempt to scare them and get them to leave their houses and lands.
Hebron is a frequent site of tensions due to the presence of around 500 Israeli settlers in the Old City, many of whom have illegally occupied Palestinian houses and forcibly removed the original inhabitants.
Tel Rumeida hosts one of the most militant Jewish settlements in the city, and locals complain of near daily harassment and attacks by the groups, who are under heavy Israeli military protection.
16 may 2014
Fanatic Israeli settlers have uprooted yesterday dozens of olive trees and grapes in a Palestinian agricultural land in Bethlehem, southern West Bank.
Local sources confirmed that a group of settlers uprooted late yesterday 58 olive, grape and almond fruit trees after breaking into Palestinian land in the city.
The sources added that settlers from Beitar Illit settlement stormed an agricultural land, located in an area of 51 dunums, belonging to a Palestinian farmer, and uprooted his trees.
The mentioned agricultural land is exposed to daily attacks by settlers as part of their attempts to appropriate the land.
Local sources confirmed that a group of settlers uprooted late yesterday 58 olive, grape and almond fruit trees after breaking into Palestinian land in the city.
The sources added that settlers from Beitar Illit settlement stormed an agricultural land, located in an area of 51 dunums, belonging to a Palestinian farmer, and uprooted his trees.
The mentioned agricultural land is exposed to daily attacks by settlers as part of their attempts to appropriate the land.
12 may 2014
A group of fanatic Jewish settlers on Sunday sabotaged dozens of grapevines and olive trees in a field belonging to a Palestinian farmer in Beit Ummar town to the north of Al-Khalil city. Farmer Hammad Asleibi was shocked when he saw Jewish settlers destroying dozens of his fruitful trees on his own land, which is located a few meters away from Bat Ayin settlement to the north of Al-Khalil.
When Asleibi rushed to his land to check the damage, the settlers hurled stones at him, according to the popular committee against the segregation wall and settlement activities in Beit Ummar town.
The same piece of land had been exposed before to similar attacks by Jewish settlers.
More than 300 of its trees were ruined in previous incidents.
When Asleibi rushed to his land to check the damage, the settlers hurled stones at him, according to the popular committee against the segregation wall and settlement activities in Beit Ummar town.
The same piece of land had been exposed before to similar attacks by Jewish settlers.
More than 300 of its trees were ruined in previous incidents.