The evidence suggests that the vandals sawed and then broke branches off the trees, completely destroying seven trees and partially damaging another three, according to Christian Peacemaker Teams and Operation Dove.
Members of the Raba'i family said that, due to the late spring rains, they had expected a good olive harvest this year. One olive tree in the area produces an average of 12 kilos of olive oil. Therefore, the cumulative loss of these damaged trees' production is a substantial financial blow to the family.
The property owners called the police in order to lodge a formal complaint.
Due to numerous prior similar incidents in the area, Palestinians suspect that the perpetrators are most likely settlers from the nearby Havat Ma'on settlement outpost.
This incident continues a string of recent episodes of settler vandalism and harassment in the area surrounding At-Tuwani. Several times during the last 10 days, settlers have grazed their flocks on Palestinian fields, further harming crops already suffering from the winter drought.
In the last 10 days, on at least three different occasions, settlers have also harassed Palestinian children on their way home from school in At-Tuwani. Each time, as the school children walked on the road near the settlement and outpost, settlers stalked the children along the road.
M.A.
