Palestinian 'olive trees uprooted' in West Bank

Israeli settlers invaded Palestinian olive groves in the West Bank on Saturday and uprooted 200 trees, Palestinian witnesses said. The settlers from Yitzhar, near the northern city of Nablus, attacked the groves around the villages of Hawwara and Ein Nabus, the sources said. Late on Wednesday, dozens of Palestinian olive trees were destroyed in an attack near the city of Hebron in what local residents called an act of revenge carried out by settlers. The Israeli military confirmed that "about 40" trees were burnt and uprooted in the village of Shuweikeh, south of Hebron. The military and local residents said the attackers left Hebrew-language graffiti at the scene, including a spray-painted Star of David and the slogan "Price tag, Halhul." The phrase, sprayed on a rock, was an apparent reference to an area adjoining Hebron where a settler and his 18-month-old son were killed last week when the man lost control of his car after being hit by stones hurled by Palestinians. The West Bank's most radical settlers have for some time adopted what they call a "price tag" policy, under which they attack Palestinians and their property, usually in response to Israeli government measures against settlements.