NABLUS, Tuesday, November 26, 2019 (WAFA) – Fanatic Israeli settlers Monday night set fire to Palestinian-owned olive trees in the archaeological site of the village of Sebastia, northwest of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.

Mohammad Azem, mayor of Sebastia, told WAFA that village residents were able to save hundreds of olive trees after extremist Israeli settlers had set fire to about 25 dunums of land.

He added that the fire was quickly extinguished as settlers escaped. Israeli forces came to the area to provide protection for the settlers, he said..

Sebastia is an archaeological site and village to the west of Nablus in the northern West Bank of about 3,000 Palestinian residents. It also has religious significance for Muslims and Christians alike because it is believed that John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus in Jordan River, is buried there.

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

Settlers‘ violence includes property and mosque arson, stone-throwing, uprooting and torching of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.

K.T./M.K.