Israeli bulldozers uproot hundreds of olive trees in West Bank village

Israeli bulldozers uprooted hundreds of trees in the West Bank village of al-Mughayyir on Aug. 24 in the presence of the Israeli military, said AFP journalists who witnessed the scene.

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AL MUGHAYYIR, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES -

Most of the felled vegetation appeared to be olive trees, essential to the economy and culture of the West Bank, while olive groves have also long been a flashpoint for violent clashes between farmers and encroaching Israeli settlers.

Mr. Abdelatif Mohammed Abu Aliya, a local farmer from the village near Ramallah, said he lost olive trees that were over 70 years old on about 1ha of land.

"They completely uprooted and leveled them under false pretenses," he said, explaining that he and other residents had already begun replanting the pulled-up trees.

AFP photographers on the ground saw overturned soil, olive trees lying on the ground, and several bulldozers operating on the hills surrounding the village.

One bulldozer had an Israeli flag, and Israeli military vehicles were parked nearby.