Zionist settlers uproot 300 olive trees in Qariout

22 June 2007

NABLUS, - Extremist Jewish settlers from the settlement outpost called A'ame A'ad near Nablus uprooted 300 olive trees belonging to local Palestinians and replanted them inside the post.

Eyewitnesses told PIC correspondent that the settlers uprooted the trees from lands belonging to the villagers of Qariout to the south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. It has transpired later that the settlers replanted about half of the uprooted trees on the road leading to the outpost and on lands the settlers have confiscated from Palestinian owners to build their settlement.

The A'ame A'ad outpost lies less than two miles from Shvut Rahil settlement which is populated by Jewish immigrants from Russia and Brazil.

Palestinian farmers have on numerous occasions complained of the settlers criminal acts against their land, which include uprooting trees and burning crop fields.

Olive trees are highly regarded by Palestinians; to many villagers they are their sole source of income. The olive tree takes a number of years of nurturing before it starts yielding fruit.