Israeli settlers destroy Palestinian olive groves near Ramallah

Israeli settlers destroyed dozens of Palestinian olive trees in the occupied village of al-Mughayyir, west of Ramallah, said a local official.

The settlers, who are from a nearby illegal Israeli outpost of Adei Ad, chopped down around 100 olive trees belonging to local resident Rateeb al-N’asaan according to the head of al-Mughayyir village council, Amin Abu Aliya.

Settler vandalism of olive trees is common this time of year, with harvesting season being one of the most prominent forms of livelihood for Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Israeli settlers commonly destroy, poison and steal olive harvests during this season, leaving Palestinians unable to eat or sell their own produce.

51 years of illegal occupation

Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law.

Israeli forces and settlers routinely harass Palestinians in the occupied territories.

Earlier this month, the UN published a report which revealed the impoverished conditions in Palestine proves the extent to which Israel's policies of expanding the occupation debilitates Palestinians.

“Over the years, Israel established a complex matrix of controls over the Palestinian economy featuring a permit system, roadblocks, earth mounds, trenches, road checkpoints, road gates and the Separation Barrier”, the report said.

“The Occupied Palestinian Territory has the highest unemployment rate in the world, and women and youth are disproportionately impacted by the joblessness crisis. Construction of illegal Israeli settlements and annexation of Palestinian land accelerated. Gaza continues to slide on a path of de-development as a grave humanitarian crisis deepens,” the report added.