If It's Autumn It's Time For Zionists To Destroy Palestinian Olive Trees

Israel settlers start fires amid West Bank harvest

"FARATA'A, Palestinian Territories — Thick black smoke billows from the olive grove under the gaze of Israeli soldiers as Palestinian farmers use branches to try to beat out the fires lit by Jewish settlers.

It's olive harvest time in the occupied West Bank.

The firebombers swooped down from Havat Gilad, a wildcat Jewish settlement unauthorised even by the Israeli government.
Encircled by barbed wire, the makeshift dwellings glower down on the surrounding Palestinian olive plantations from a hilltop in the northern West Bank.
"We were gathering the olives when the settlers arrived. One of them started a fire," says olive grower Shaher Tawil.
He points to a bearded man wearing a T-shirt and a Jewish kippa or skullcap, now safely behind an Israeli military barrier.
"When we saw the flames, we called the fire service but the soldiers wouldn't let them come any closer to prevent clashes with the settlers," the old man says.
The young Israeli conscripts, visibly embarrassed and restricted by their uniforms in the oppressive midday heat, finally let the fire-truck through after about an hour, by which time the flames have already been well-fanned by the wind."

Settlers Level Palestinian Lands To Expand Settlement

"Two days ago, the settlers brought equipment and bulldozers to the scene, and started uprooting trees and leveling the Palestinian lands in order to construct a new neighborhood north of the settlement."


Settlers Destroy Olive Trees Near Nablus after Stealing Olives

"Nablus – PNN – Israeli settlers destroyed on Wednesday olive trees that belongs to Palestinian farmers from the villages of Howwara and Yanon in northern West Bank."

Settlers attack students sent to help farmers in Tel Armida

"A group of Israeli settlers under military escort attacked a number of university students as they were en route to help Palestinian farmers in harvesting olive trees in Tel Armida and Jabal Jawher area in Al-Khalil city on Saturday.

Local sources said that the Israeli soldiers who came along with the settlers threatened the students that they would be shot dead if they tried to reach the olive trees in Tel Armida."

Settlers Harvest Palestinian Olives, Destroy Trees

Without Water, There is No Life

"Israel controls and uses 89% of the water resources in the West Bank, leaving 11% for the 2.5 million Palestinians. The Israeli Occupation continues to limit Palestinian access to clean water as form of collective punishment by controlling the water resources and distribution and by destroying the water that we are able to get. During Israeli military incursions, and especially during curfews, when we could not leave our homes, Israeli soldiers would shoot the water storage tanks on our roofs. Our water would pour down the sides of our buildings unused. During the recent attack on Gaza, Israel targeted the entire water infrastructure including the largest water purification system in Gaza. They also targeted electrical generators that supported water purification and sewage treatment."

Water Crisis in Palestine Is Worsening