NABLUS (PIC)– Israeli settlers’ destruction of Palestinian olive trees will reduce this year’s harvest by an estimated USD $500000 as 7500 olive trees were destroyed in acts of settler violence Palestinian and international aid and development organizations working to improve Palestinian olive oil warned today.
The agencies Oxfam Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) and Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC) say that for Palestinian farmers the cost of such attacks is particularly high as olives collected in the month long harvesting season are expected to produce only half the oil that was produced last year.
“Burning an olive tree is like burning a farmer’s bank account” says Jeremy Hobbs Executive Director of Oxfam International.
“Over 100000 Palestinian families depend on the money they earn during harvest season. Especially because this is a bad harvest every olive counts.”
