NABLUS (Ma’an) -- Local officials in Madama village, south of Nablus, said Monday that dozens Israeli settlers from the nearby Yitzhar settlement were behind the torching of agricultural lands and an attack on a farmer.

Village council member Hasan Ziyada said locals counted 37 settlers in all, in four separate groups, harassing farmers in the Ein Ash-Sha’ira area to the south of the village.

Farmers argued with the settlers, the official said, after which one of the groups set fire to fields and fled.