A Palestinian farmer showing the olive branches cut off by Jewish settlers in the village of Mukhmas. (WAFA photo/Baha Nasr)

JERUSALEM, April 10, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers Monday uprooted 310 olive trees in the village of Mukhmas, southeast of East Jerusalem, local sources said.

Under the protection of Israeli forces, settlers from Ma’ale Mikhmas settlement adjacent to the village uprooted and destroyed Palestinian-owned 310 olive trees near by-pass Route 60, which connects settlements established on the village’s lands with neighboring settlements.

This is the second time Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees in Mukhmas. Two years ago, they uprooted 200 olive trees.

Last week, Israeli forces uprooted 135 olive trees and destroyed terraces in Wadi Qana and Deir Istiya town in the central West Bank district of Salfit.

Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

It involves property arson attacks, including churches and mosques arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees and attacks against vulnerable Palestinian homes.

There are over 500,000 Israeli Jewish settlers living in settlements across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in violation of international law.

All settlements across the West Bank are illegal under international law, particularly article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which establishes that the occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.

K.T./ K.F.