Settlers chop down Palestinians' olive, fig trees near Ramallah [View All]

Ma'an News, May 5, 2009



This article was originally published by the Ma'an News Agency and is republished with permission.

Dozens of Israeli settlers chopped town Palestinians' olive and fig trees in the village of Sinjil, north of the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday. Sinjil's Mayor Imad Abdullah Masalmeh explained that the settlers cut the trees owned by the sick father of four disabled children, Shawqi Hussein Ghafari.

The settlers also cut down olive trees owned by Ali Hussein Fuqaha, Adib Ali Fuqaha, Hussein Farhan Dar Khalil, and the family of Muhammad Yousef Khalil. The mayor explained that this village is frequently attacked by settlers, pointing out that five settlements and outposts encircle the community.

He added that the municipality formed a committee to defend the land from settlers and the expansion of settlements. He said large swaths of the town are threatened with confiscation as a result of settlement expansion. He appealed for the Palestinian Authority and rights-related organizations to support the farmers and put a stop to such practices.

http://imeu.net/news/article0016381.shtml