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Video footage of settlers vandalizing olive trees raises concerns security forces not prepared for harvest
B`Tselem
16.9.2013

Press release - for immediate publication

Video footage of Settlers vandalizing olive trees raises concerns security forces not prepared for harvest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E73hkJPvWE&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdp0KLk4-X0&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MXe6eNCz5M&feature=youtu.be

Filmed by Mus’ab Reb’i, B’Tselem

Last week, a B’Tselem volunteer filmed two settlers vandalizing olive trees belonging to a resident of a-Tuwani, in broad daylight. The incident occurred in the Wadi al-Humra area of a-Tuwani, close to the illegal outpost Havat Ma’on. As the footage was captured from a distance, it is blurry and jerky; however, the two settlers can be discerned vandalizing the trees. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, 10 Sept. 2013.

When the Palestinian residents in the area noticed the settlers’ actions, they alerted a B’Tselem field worker, who called the police. Although residents reported that policemen arrived on the scene fairly quickly, the offenders managed to escape. The police opened an investigation into the incident, and B’Tselem provided the investigators with the video footage. A-Tuwani resident ‘Ali Reb’i, who owns the land, also filed a complaint with the Hebron police.

For stills shots of the vandalized trees, see here (video quality):

http://www.btselem.org/download/press/twaneh_00394.jpg

http://www.btselem.org/download/press/twaneh_00397.jpg

Last year, Operation Dove volunteers counted 37 trees vandalized in ten separate incidents in the Wadi al-Humra area of a- Tuwani area alone, at least five of which were reported to the Israeli security forces and documented by policemen or soldiers who arrived at the scene.

In about a month from now, the olive harvest season will begin in the West Bank. In recent years, most of the incidents where settlers vandalized olive trees and crops occurred at this time, in the weeks leading up to the harvest. One reason is that security forces have begun to prepare adequately for preventing such incidents during the harvest itself. In a letter sent by four Israeli organizations to OC Central Command and to the Legal Adviser to the Military Forces in the West Bank, that point was made clear, and the potential locations for such vandalism were listed, including Havat Ma’on.

Even so, this recent vandalism occurred in broad daylight, close to Havat Ma’on, with soldiers regularly posted nearby being either unaware of the incident or aware of it and taking no action to stop it. This raises concern that the security forces have not yet prepared properly for protecting olive trees at this sensitive time.

For additional information: Sarit Michaeli - +972(0)50-5387230


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