Settlers chop down Palestinian olive trees in West Bank

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Jewish settlers on Friday vandalized a Palestinian olive grove in the town of Mughiyyar north of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to witnesses.

Amin Abu Aliya, head of Mughiyyar’s local council, told Anadolu Agency that a group of settlers had chopped down around 20 olive trees planted almost three decades ago.

According to Abu Aliya, attacks by Jewish settlers -- both on Palestinians and their property -- have increased in frequency in recent months.

He accused the Israeli army of providing protection to rampaging settlers.

Israeli daily Haaretz recently reported that settler attacks on West Bank Palestinians had tripled in 2018, with at least 482 separate attacks recorded last year -- up from 140 attacks in 2017.

According to the newspaper, attacks ranged from beating up Palestinians and vandalizing their property to cutting down trees belonging to Palestinian farmers.