9 feb 2015
Abu Ein's replacement detained during tree planting action
Extremist Israeli settlers cut down over 70 Palestinian olive trees in the Hebron district on Monday, according to locals. Meanwhile, some 3,740 dunams in areas of four West Bank settlements have been marked as "state lands" by Israeli authorities.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that the settlers destroyed over 70 tree saplings near the town of Sair.
The trees had been planted a week ago in an area threatened with annexation, near the illegal settlement of Metzad, located in the Gush Etzion bloc west of Bethlehem.
Locals have organized a campaign to replant the trees.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way by which Palestinians are forced out of their homes and lands confiscated for settlement construction, as the loss of a year's crop can signal destitution for many.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 West Bank olive trees have been uprooted, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem.
In a related vein, Israeli forces were reported to have detained the president of the Palestinian Authority's committee against the apartheid wall and settlements while he was planting trees near Ramallah.
Sources told Ma'an that Jamil al-Barghouthi was arrested while taking part in a tree planting demonstration on Silwad land that is under threat of Israeli confiscation.
Israeli forces reportedly assaulted al-Barghouthi and other participants in the activity before making the arrest.
The soldiers also detained the man's escort, Iyad al-Barghouthi.
In December, PA President Mahmoud Abbas appointed al-Barghouthi to replace Ziad Abu Ein as the head of the PA committee against the wall and settlements.
Abu Ein died after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a tree planting demonstration in the village of Turmusayya in the Ramallah district on December 10th.
PNN reports that Israeli Civil Administration, last year, prepared major expansions of four West Bank settlements; Kedumim, Vered Yericho, Neveh Tzuf and Emanuel. Some 3,740 dunams in the areas of the settlements were marked as state lands. More than 99% of "state lands" are allocated to settlements.
According to Haaretz, Preparations for submitting construction plans were carried out on 18 projects encompassing 12,840 dunams. This marked a significant decline from 2013 when preparations were made on 26,548 dunams. An examination of the work done in these areas demonstrates the government's intentions to expand settlements.
There has also been a change in settlements' areas of jurisdiction. Last year they increased by 1,162 dunams. Psagot received 155 dunams, Elkana 904 dunams, and Mevo Horon 600 dunams. On the other hand, the settlements Tzufim, Kfar Oranim and Halamish became smaller.
Last December Haaretz reported that the state had marked 35,000 dunams located in firing zones near the settlements as state lands. Although the government claims that the firing zones are used for army training exercises, they have in fact started to prepare them for transfer to the settlements.
Researcher Dror Etkes, who heads the Peace Now settlement tracking project, analyzed the data and told Haaretz: "These data prove that the Netanyahu government continued in 2014 to energetically promote the End of Days vision of an apartheid state, where settlements are built simultaneously all over the West Bank, and millions of Palestinians live as second-class citizens in the enclaves between them."
Extremist Israeli settlers cut down over 70 Palestinian olive trees in the Hebron district on Monday, according to locals. Meanwhile, some 3,740 dunams in areas of four West Bank settlements have been marked as "state lands" by Israeli authorities.
Witnesses told Ma'an News Agency that the settlers destroyed over 70 tree saplings near the town of Sair.
The trees had been planted a week ago in an area threatened with annexation, near the illegal settlement of Metzad, located in the Gush Etzion bloc west of Bethlehem.
Locals have organized a campaign to replant the trees.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way by which Palestinians are forced out of their homes and lands confiscated for settlement construction, as the loss of a year's crop can signal destitution for many.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 West Bank olive trees have been uprooted, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute of Jerusalem.
In a related vein, Israeli forces were reported to have detained the president of the Palestinian Authority's committee against the apartheid wall and settlements while he was planting trees near Ramallah.
Sources told Ma'an that Jamil al-Barghouthi was arrested while taking part in a tree planting demonstration on Silwad land that is under threat of Israeli confiscation.
Israeli forces reportedly assaulted al-Barghouthi and other participants in the activity before making the arrest.
The soldiers also detained the man's escort, Iyad al-Barghouthi.
In December, PA President Mahmoud Abbas appointed al-Barghouthi to replace Ziad Abu Ein as the head of the PA committee against the wall and settlements.
Abu Ein died after being assaulted by Israeli soldiers during a tree planting demonstration in the village of Turmusayya in the Ramallah district on December 10th.
PNN reports that Israeli Civil Administration, last year, prepared major expansions of four West Bank settlements; Kedumim, Vered Yericho, Neveh Tzuf and Emanuel. Some 3,740 dunams in the areas of the settlements were marked as state lands. More than 99% of "state lands" are allocated to settlements.
According to Haaretz, Preparations for submitting construction plans were carried out on 18 projects encompassing 12,840 dunams. This marked a significant decline from 2013 when preparations were made on 26,548 dunams. An examination of the work done in these areas demonstrates the government's intentions to expand settlements.
There has also been a change in settlements' areas of jurisdiction. Last year they increased by 1,162 dunams. Psagot received 155 dunams, Elkana 904 dunams, and Mevo Horon 600 dunams. On the other hand, the settlements Tzufim, Kfar Oranim and Halamish became smaller.
Last December Haaretz reported that the state had marked 35,000 dunams located in firing zones near the settlements as state lands. Although the government claims that the firing zones are used for army training exercises, they have in fact started to prepare them for transfer to the settlements.
Researcher Dror Etkes, who heads the Peace Now settlement tracking project, analyzed the data and told Haaretz: "These data prove that the Netanyahu government continued in 2014 to energetically promote the End of Days vision of an apartheid state, where settlements are built simultaneously all over the West Bank, and millions of Palestinians live as second-class citizens in the enclaves between them."
7 feb 2015
On the morning of February 5, ISM volunteers travelled with around 50 Palestinian activists from the Salfit area to the village of Kafr ad Dik to take part in an olive tree planting action organised by the Joint Council of Salfit (a newly formed coalition which includes a group of municipal councils in the Salfit area and the Palestinian Youth Union).
The mood in the coach travelling over was upbeat and defiant. Local youth and women, who together formed the majority of participants, sang and discussed the importance of the tree-planting.
Ninety per cent of the village land of Kafr ad Dik lies in Area C [PDF] of the West Bank; buildings erected (post-1967) or trees planted are liable to demolition and destruction by Israeli Forces at any time, in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In an area where the majority of the population are dependent upon agriculture for their livelihood, these illegal acts of destruction and the constant threat of future destruction have a devastating effect on the people´s economic and psychological wellbeing.
The people of Kafr ad Dik also have to contend, as do other villages throughout the Salfit area, with the presence of the illegal Israeli settlements. The Salfit region has a Palestinian population of 60,000, distributed among the 19 villages and one major town, but the aggressive expansion of the illegal settlements in the area means that the indigenous population is now outnumbered by the settlers – one settlement alone, Ariel, has a population of 40,000.
The mayor of Kafr ad Dik told ISM that Salfit is a target for aggressive settlement expansion because of the area´s water resources: it contains the second largest aquifer in historical Palestine. However, the villages have to pay for water to be imported from Israel as they are not allowed to drill wells. The strategic location of Salfit is another factor – the continued expansion of settlements in the region could divide the West Bank, completely isolating the north from the south. Elaborating on the impact which the illegal settlements are having on his and neighbouring villages, the mayor referred to the frequent attacks by settlers who destroy olive trees, and the health problems in the area, which he linked to the pollution from the illegal industrial settlement of Ale Zahav.
120 olive tree saplings, provided by PARC (Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee), were planted in Area C, were planted in Thursday’s action as an act of agricultural resistance. Fayiq Qeshawe, one of the coordinators, told ISM that this was the first in a planned programme of such activities, all of which are intended to empower local communities and help maintain the indigenous population´s presence on, and ownership of, their land. As Majd, a sixteen-year-old from Salfit town, told ISM on the way back to from the action, ¨Today we have all come to volunteer as the olive is so important for the history of Palestine and to plant the olive is to prove that we are here, that this is our land.¨
The mood in the coach travelling over was upbeat and defiant. Local youth and women, who together formed the majority of participants, sang and discussed the importance of the tree-planting.
Ninety per cent of the village land of Kafr ad Dik lies in Area C [PDF] of the West Bank; buildings erected (post-1967) or trees planted are liable to demolition and destruction by Israeli Forces at any time, in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention. In an area where the majority of the population are dependent upon agriculture for their livelihood, these illegal acts of destruction and the constant threat of future destruction have a devastating effect on the people´s economic and psychological wellbeing.
The people of Kafr ad Dik also have to contend, as do other villages throughout the Salfit area, with the presence of the illegal Israeli settlements. The Salfit region has a Palestinian population of 60,000, distributed among the 19 villages and one major town, but the aggressive expansion of the illegal settlements in the area means that the indigenous population is now outnumbered by the settlers – one settlement alone, Ariel, has a population of 40,000.
The mayor of Kafr ad Dik told ISM that Salfit is a target for aggressive settlement expansion because of the area´s water resources: it contains the second largest aquifer in historical Palestine. However, the villages have to pay for water to be imported from Israel as they are not allowed to drill wells. The strategic location of Salfit is another factor – the continued expansion of settlements in the region could divide the West Bank, completely isolating the north from the south. Elaborating on the impact which the illegal settlements are having on his and neighbouring villages, the mayor referred to the frequent attacks by settlers who destroy olive trees, and the health problems in the area, which he linked to the pollution from the illegal industrial settlement of Ale Zahav.
120 olive tree saplings, provided by PARC (Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committee), were planted in Area C, were planted in Thursday’s action as an act of agricultural resistance. Fayiq Qeshawe, one of the coordinators, told ISM that this was the first in a planned programme of such activities, all of which are intended to empower local communities and help maintain the indigenous population´s presence on, and ownership of, their land. As Majd, a sixteen-year-old from Salfit town, told ISM on the way back to from the action, ¨Today we have all come to volunteer as the olive is so important for the history of Palestine and to plant the olive is to prove that we are here, that this is our land.¨
31 jan 2015
A group of Jewish settlers uprooted on Saturday olive and almond trees near Yatta town in al-Khalil before fleeing the scene.
The coordinator of Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee in Yatta, Ratib al-Jabour, told Quds Press that the settlers came from Ma’oun settlement, which is established on Yatta land. They uprooted trees belonging to a Palestinian family.
Jabour pointed out that Yatta inhabitants saw the settlers, who were uprooting the trees, and chased them.
The coordinator of Anti-Wall and Settlement Committee in Yatta, Ratib al-Jabour, told Quds Press that the settlers came from Ma’oun settlement, which is established on Yatta land. They uprooted trees belonging to a Palestinian family.
Jabour pointed out that Yatta inhabitants saw the settlers, who were uprooting the trees, and chased them.
25 jan 2015
A group of Israeli settlers on Sunday chopped down dozens of olive trees belonging to an elderly Palestinian man in the village of Sisiya south of Hebron, a local spokesman said.
Ratib al-Jubour, spokesman of a local popular committee, said "a mob of settlers chopped down more than 30 olive trees planted four years ago."
He said the trees belonged to a man named Khalil Najawaa.
Settlers have been pressuring Najawaa to leave his land, al-Jubour said.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is commonplace but is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
There are over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
Ratib al-Jubour, spokesman of a local popular committee, said "a mob of settlers chopped down more than 30 olive trees planted four years ago."
He said the trees belonged to a man named Khalil Najawaa.
Settlers have been pressuring Najawaa to leave his land, al-Jubour said.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is commonplace but is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.
There are over 500,000 Israeli settlers living in settlements across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
18 jan 2015
Several Palestinians were injured, Saturday, while dozens of others suffocated from tear gas inhalation as Israeli forces dispersed a peaceful march to the north of Surif town, north of Hebron, according to local activists and WAFA correspondence.
Israeli forces attacked and attempted to crush a peaceful march that was organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in the southern West Bank, brutally assaulting participants with the butts of their rifles, spraying them with pepper spray, and firing tear gas canisters and stun grenades at them.
Several Palestinians were injured, while dozens others suffocated as a result of excessive tear gas inhalation.
The march was organized in protest of the ongoing closure of the road linking Surif with al-Jab‘a village to the southwest of Bethlehem.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, said that the march was intended to protest the ongoing closure and siege imposed on Palestinian communities in these areas, especially in communities located adjacent to illegal settlements, as well as the seizure of 2,000 dunums of land belonging to Surif for the benefit of settlement expansion.
Several activists were briefly detained by soldiers, including Ahmad al-Hih and Loai Ghnaimat.
Marchers demanded the removal of the metal gate that has been installed for the last fourteen years by Israeli forces between Surif and al-Jab‘a.
In related news, Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees from Palestinian-owned land located between the Ramallah villages of al- Mughayyir and Turmus-Ayya, on Saturday.
Local sources told WAFA that settlers uprooted around 20 fruitful olive trees belonging to Rakid al-Nasaan.
OCHA Protection of Civilians report covering the period between 16– 22 December 2014, reported an average of six incidents of Israeli attacks against Palestinians, resulting in Palestinian casualties or damage to property since the beginning of 2014.
“In 2013, the report of the United Nations International Fact-Finding Mission on Settlements highlighted the failure of the Israeli authorities to enforce the law by investigating such incidents and taking measures against their perpetrators. The Fact-Finding Mission came to the 'clear conclusion that there is institutionalized discrimination against the Palestinian people when it comes to addressing violence,” stated al-Haq, an independent Palestinian non-governmental human rights organization.
B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, stressed that “As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfill this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands. The undeclared policy of the Israeli authorities in response to these attacks is lenient and conciliatory. Perpetrators are rarely tried, and many cases are not investigated at all or are closed with no operative conclusions.”
Israeli forces attacked and attempted to crush a peaceful march that was organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in the southern West Bank, brutally assaulting participants with the butts of their rifles, spraying them with pepper spray, and firing tear gas canisters and stun grenades at them.
Several Palestinians were injured, while dozens others suffocated as a result of excessive tear gas inhalation.
The march was organized in protest of the ongoing closure of the road linking Surif with al-Jab‘a village to the southwest of Bethlehem.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlement in Hebron, Rateb al-Jabour, said that the march was intended to protest the ongoing closure and siege imposed on Palestinian communities in these areas, especially in communities located adjacent to illegal settlements, as well as the seizure of 2,000 dunums of land belonging to Surif for the benefit of settlement expansion.
Several activists were briefly detained by soldiers, including Ahmad al-Hih and Loai Ghnaimat.
Marchers demanded the removal of the metal gate that has been installed for the last fourteen years by Israeli forces between Surif and al-Jab‘a.
In related news, Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees from Palestinian-owned land located between the Ramallah villages of al- Mughayyir and Turmus-Ayya, on Saturday.
Local sources told WAFA that settlers uprooted around 20 fruitful olive trees belonging to Rakid al-Nasaan.
OCHA Protection of Civilians report covering the period between 16– 22 December 2014, reported an average of six incidents of Israeli attacks against Palestinians, resulting in Palestinian casualties or damage to property since the beginning of 2014.
“In 2013, the report of the United Nations International Fact-Finding Mission on Settlements highlighted the failure of the Israeli authorities to enforce the law by investigating such incidents and taking measures against their perpetrators. The Fact-Finding Mission came to the 'clear conclusion that there is institutionalized discrimination against the Palestinian people when it comes to addressing violence,” stated al-Haq, an independent Palestinian non-governmental human rights organization.
B'Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, stressed that “As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfill this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands. The undeclared policy of the Israeli authorities in response to these attacks is lenient and conciliatory. Perpetrators are rarely tried, and many cases are not investigated at all or are closed with no operative conclusions.”
14 jan 2015
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On Monday, January 11th, a farmer in Yasuf went out to see how his land had weathered during the recent storm and saw that a large number of olive trees in neighbouring plots had been cut down to their trunks.
He immediately alerted the Yasuf Municipality. The Municipality came to the site, took photographs and shot a video. They found that thirty-six trees had been chopped to the point where they could no longer live. Some of the severed branches were still very green, indicating a very recent attack, while others were more browned, suggesting a separate incident which they estimate occurred five to eight days ago. The mayor of Yasuf, Abu Hamad, and several municipality employees |
spoke with ISM. They elaborated the issues surrounding the trees which were cut down. Four different farmers, three from the large Yassin family, were affected. The killed trees were in the agricultural area known as Al-Teen Al-Shami, a couple kilometers from the village by a road which the Israeli military has closed off with a gate since 2002. This is used in such a way as to severely restrict the time in which farmers can harvest their olives and graze their animals.
Yasuf is surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements and outposts; [PDF] there have been numerous attacks on the village by settlers in recent years. This is not the first time they have targeted trees – there was a similar incident three or four months ago and the affected family went to the Israeli police. No action has been taken. Settlers have also set fire to a mosque and attacked people’s cars. But it’s not time to give up yet – the Yasuf Municipality is considering having an event to plant more olive trees to replace those that were lost.
Yasuf is surrounded by illegal Israeli settlements and outposts; [PDF] there have been numerous attacks on the village by settlers in recent years. This is not the first time they have targeted trees – there was a similar incident three or four months ago and the affected family went to the Israeli police. No action has been taken. Settlers have also set fire to a mosque and attacked people’s cars. But it’s not time to give up yet – the Yasuf Municipality is considering having an event to plant more olive trees to replace those that were lost.
12 jan 2015
Jewish settlers from Tafouh settlement uprooted about 36 olive trees in Yasouf town east of Salfit Governorate.
Farmers at the town said the settlers uprooted Sunday evening olive trees which are planted behind the gate of the nearby Tafouh settlement where guards are intensively deployed and prohibit entry of Palestinian farmers to tend to their own land.
They added, “The Jewish settlers bar us from farming our lands in this area”.
Farmers at the town said the settlers uprooted Sunday evening olive trees which are planted behind the gate of the nearby Tafouh settlement where guards are intensively deployed and prohibit entry of Palestinian farmers to tend to their own land.
They added, “The Jewish settlers bar us from farming our lands in this area”.
Israeli settlers have cut down over 170 olive trees in a village to the south of Nablus, the third such attack in the occupied West Bank over the past three days.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement-related activities in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an News Agency that settlers from the illegal settlement of Tappuah completely chopped down more than 170 ancient olive trees.
The attack took place in private Palestinian groves located in Yasuf, near the settlement's perimeter fence.
The trees were reportedly of the "Roman" variety, a term used in Arabic to describe olive trees with huge trunks that are known to be hundreds of years old.
This recent act of settler vandalism comes only two days after colonial Israeli settlers carried out two different operations, near Hebron, in which they destroyed some 345 olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way of attempting to force Palestinians out of their homes. Their lands are then confiscated for settlement construction.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank, Ma'an further reports.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted in the occupied West Bank, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
There were at least 329 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in 2014, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Though UN resolutions are firmly in place to protect the rights of Palestinians, they are not enforced, further contributing to the historic disenfranchisement and displacement of the Palestinian people.
Palestinians now make up the largest refugee group in the entire world.
Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement-related activities in the northern West Bank, told Ma'an News Agency that settlers from the illegal settlement of Tappuah completely chopped down more than 170 ancient olive trees.
The attack took place in private Palestinian groves located in Yasuf, near the settlement's perimeter fence.
The trees were reportedly of the "Roman" variety, a term used in Arabic to describe olive trees with huge trunks that are known to be hundreds of years old.
This recent act of settler vandalism comes only two days after colonial Israeli settlers carried out two different operations, near Hebron, in which they destroyed some 345 olive trees belonging to Palestinian farmers.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way of attempting to force Palestinians out of their homes. Their lands are then confiscated for settlement construction.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank, Ma'an further reports.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted in the occupied West Bank, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
There were at least 329 incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank in 2014, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Though UN resolutions are firmly in place to protect the rights of Palestinians, they are not enforced, further contributing to the historic disenfranchisement and displacement of the Palestinian people.
Palestinians now make up the largest refugee group in the entire world.
10 jan 2015
Approximately 300 olive trees owned by Palestinians were cut down overnight near Yatta town in al-Khalil at the hands of Israeli settlers.
Coordinator of the popular committee against settlement and wall in Yatta Rateb Jabour said that Jewish settlers from Susia settlement have savagely destroyed 300 olive trees located near their settlement illegally built on Palestinian lands in the town.
The damaged olive trees belonged to Shatat and Dawoud families, he told Quds Press.
The settlers' attack came a few hours after Jewish settlers from Mitzpe Yair settlement stormed agricultural lands in Yatta and destroyed 45 perennial olive trees that were planted about 30 years ago.
Coordinator of the popular committee against settlement and wall in Yatta Rateb Jabour said that Jewish settlers from Susia settlement have savagely destroyed 300 olive trees located near their settlement illegally built on Palestinian lands in the town.
The damaged olive trees belonged to Shatat and Dawoud families, he told Quds Press.
The settlers' attack came a few hours after Jewish settlers from Mitzpe Yair settlement stormed agricultural lands in Yatta and destroyed 45 perennial olive trees that were planted about 30 years ago.
9 jan 2015
Mitzpe Yair settlers sabotaged Friday dozens of olive trees in Yatta town in al-Khalil to the south of occupied West Bank, local sources reported.
Coordinator of the popular committee against settlement and wall Rateb Rajoub said that Jewish settlers from Mitzpe Yair settlement stormed agricultural lands in Yatta and destroyed 45 perennial olive trees that were planted about 30 years ago.
Jabour strongly condemned the settlers’ persistent assaults on the Palestinian natives in Masafer Yatta with the aim of forcing them to leave their areas.
Coordinator of the popular committee against settlement and wall Rateb Rajoub said that Jewish settlers from Mitzpe Yair settlement stormed agricultural lands in Yatta and destroyed 45 perennial olive trees that were planted about 30 years ago.
Jabour strongly condemned the settlers’ persistent assaults on the Palestinian natives in Masafer Yatta with the aim of forcing them to leave their areas.
2 jan 2015
Dozens of fanatic Israeli settlers gathered, on Thursday at night, on the main Jenin-Nablus road, in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, and attacked several Palestinian cars. Settlers approve olive saplings near Bethlehem.
Local sources said the settlers hurled stones at the cars, and surrounded them before trying to assault the Palestinians while shouting and cursing at them.
The sources added that Israeli soldiers were in the area, but did not even attempt to stop or remove the settlers.
Groups of settlers also invaded the location of a former illegal Israeli settlement outpost, near Sanour Palestinian village, south of Jenin, and attacked many Palestinians.
On Thursday evening, a number of extremist Israeli settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard, near the al-Khader town south of Bethlehem, and uprooted at least 80 olive saplings belonging to resident Mohammad Ibrahim Ghneim.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader Ahmad Salah said the attack targeted Thaghret Hammad area, close to Eliezer and Daniel illegal settlements.
He added that the area in question is subject to frequent attacks by the settlers and the army, and that the soldiers recently decided to illegally confiscate 80 Dunams of Palestinian lands to expand the illegal settlements.
Local sources said the settlers hurled stones at the cars, and surrounded them before trying to assault the Palestinians while shouting and cursing at them.
The sources added that Israeli soldiers were in the area, but did not even attempt to stop or remove the settlers.
Groups of settlers also invaded the location of a former illegal Israeli settlement outpost, near Sanour Palestinian village, south of Jenin, and attacked many Palestinians.
On Thursday evening, a number of extremist Israeli settlers invaded a Palestinian orchard, near the al-Khader town south of Bethlehem, and uprooted at least 80 olive saplings belonging to resident Mohammad Ibrahim Ghneim.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in al-Khader Ahmad Salah said the attack targeted Thaghret Hammad area, close to Eliezer and Daniel illegal settlements.
He added that the area in question is subject to frequent attacks by the settlers and the army, and that the soldiers recently decided to illegally confiscate 80 Dunams of Palestinian lands to expand the illegal settlements.
Jewish settlers have uprooted more than 5,000 olive tree saplings in lands east of the town of Turmusayya, north of Ramallah, in the central occupied West Bank, locals said Thursday.
One owner of the lands targeted, Awad Abu Samra, told Ma'an Mews Agency that, over the past week, settlers have repeatedly raided the area to attack the saplings.
The attacks are reportedly carried out in order to ensure that Palestinian farmers are unable to plant in the area, further disenfranchising them and, thus, forcing them to leave the land, opening it to confiscation by settlers.
Mr. Abu Samra estimates that the assailants have managed to uproot around 5,000 olive tree saplings, out of a total of 8,000 that had been planted since mid-December, in the area, known as al-Zahrat.
The saplings had been planted in honor of slain Palestinian official Ziad Abu Ein, who died after being beaten by an Israeli soldier, during a march to help plant trees and protest land confiscation in the area, on December 10th.
Abu Samra said that the settlers who carried out the attacks most likely came from the nearby settlement of Adei Ad, an outpost of the "Jewish-only" settlement of Shilo, located nearby. Shilo was built on lands confiscated from local Palestinians.
He added that, each day, settlers carried out raids in which they uprooted hundreds of saplings, under Israeli army protection, and that they had uprooted the saplings and broken their roots so as to prevent them from being replanted.
Jamil al-Barghouti, president of the Resistance Committee against the Wall and the Settlements, told Ma'an that the "barbaric act" occurred under the cover and protection of the Israeli army.
Barghouthi, who lives in the area, says that he has seen with his own eyes settlers attacking farmers as they worked in the area, with the aim of kicking them off the land and seizing it for the settlement.
He stressed that the committee will re-plant thousands of olive trees and will provide full assistance to farmers, to help them cultivate the land again.
He stressed that Ziad Abu Ein, who was head of the resistance committee until being killed earlier in December, had been "martyred" while working to plant the land and that the committee was dedicated to continuing his work.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way that Palestinians are forced out of their homes and their lands confiscated for settlement construction, as the loss of a year's crop can signal destitution for many.
Over 7,500 olive trees were damaged or destroyed by settlers between January and mid-October in 2012, according to the United Nations.
Ma'an further reports that, since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted in the occupied West Bank, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank is systematic and ignored by Israeli authorities, who rarely intervene in the violent attacks or prosecute the perpetrators.
As of mid-December, there have been some 320 reported incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, over the year 2014, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In the South Hebron Hills, on Thursday, Israeli settlers targeted a Palestinian home in the village of Ad-Deirat, while Israeli forces demolished a tent in the village of Al-Mufaqarah.
One owner of the lands targeted, Awad Abu Samra, told Ma'an Mews Agency that, over the past week, settlers have repeatedly raided the area to attack the saplings.
The attacks are reportedly carried out in order to ensure that Palestinian farmers are unable to plant in the area, further disenfranchising them and, thus, forcing them to leave the land, opening it to confiscation by settlers.
Mr. Abu Samra estimates that the assailants have managed to uproot around 5,000 olive tree saplings, out of a total of 8,000 that had been planted since mid-December, in the area, known as al-Zahrat.
The saplings had been planted in honor of slain Palestinian official Ziad Abu Ein, who died after being beaten by an Israeli soldier, during a march to help plant trees and protest land confiscation in the area, on December 10th.
Abu Samra said that the settlers who carried out the attacks most likely came from the nearby settlement of Adei Ad, an outpost of the "Jewish-only" settlement of Shilo, located nearby. Shilo was built on lands confiscated from local Palestinians.
He added that, each day, settlers carried out raids in which they uprooted hundreds of saplings, under Israeli army protection, and that they had uprooted the saplings and broken their roots so as to prevent them from being replanted.
Jamil al-Barghouti, president of the Resistance Committee against the Wall and the Settlements, told Ma'an that the "barbaric act" occurred under the cover and protection of the Israeli army.
Barghouthi, who lives in the area, says that he has seen with his own eyes settlers attacking farmers as they worked in the area, with the aim of kicking them off the land and seizing it for the settlement.
He stressed that the committee will re-plant thousands of olive trees and will provide full assistance to farmers, to help them cultivate the land again.
He stressed that Ziad Abu Ein, who was head of the resistance committee until being killed earlier in December, had been "martyred" while working to plant the land and that the committee was dedicated to continuing his work.
Attacks on olive trees are a key way that Palestinians are forced out of their homes and their lands confiscated for settlement construction, as the loss of a year's crop can signal destitution for many.
Over 7,500 olive trees were damaged or destroyed by settlers between January and mid-October in 2012, according to the United Nations.
Ma'an further reports that, since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted in the occupied West Bank, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
The olive industry supports the livelihoods of roughly 80,000 families in the occupied West Bank.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank is systematic and ignored by Israeli authorities, who rarely intervene in the violent attacks or prosecute the perpetrators.
As of mid-December, there have been some 320 reported incidents of settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, over the year 2014, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In the South Hebron Hills, on Thursday, Israeli settlers targeted a Palestinian home in the village of Ad-Deirat, while Israeli forces demolished a tent in the village of Al-Mufaqarah.
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