A horde of extremist Jewish settlers on Thursday destroyed 360 olive trees in al-Khalil south of the occupied West Bank.
Local official Fuaad al-Amour said that settlers from the illegal settlement of Avigayil in the east of Yatta uprooted and damaged more than 60 olive trees belonging to farmer Ahmed Hamamdeh.
Avigayil settlers had wreaked havoc on olive groves in the same area more than three times in recent years with the aim of forcing the local residents to leave their lands.
In another incident settlers on the same day destroyed over 300 olive saplings in al-Taybeh area in Tarqumiyah town northwest of al-Khalil. The grove belongs to two brothers from the family of Jaafira.
Local official Mohamed Abu Dabbous said it was the third time settlers destroyed trees in this area adding that the olive grove is located near the illegal settlement of Adora.
A few days ago the Israeli occupation army uprooted over 50 olive trees in Khallet Salameh area belonging to farmers from Tarqumiyah town as a prelude to building a road for Jewish settlers.
