HEBRON (Ma’an) -- A group of Israeli settlers in Hebron in the occupied West Bank were caught Thursday stealing olives from Palestinian farmland, local activists said.

The Palestinian group Youth Against Settlements released the video of settlers at work on the olive trees "in line with the Israeli plan to control Hebron."

“Olive season is starting. This means national events will begin soon, and we will work on organizing more national events in Tal Rmaideh to prevent settlers from attacking Palestinian lands.

"Palestinians will look after their land and never forget it," said Issa Amro.



Settler attacks on Palestinian communities and their property are systematic and rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

Settlers destroyed over 250 olive trees in a Ramallah village on Wednesday, a local agricultural committee said.

Jewish extremists from nearby Shilo settlement entered the area and cut down the trees in al-Mughayyir village, the committee added.

Attacks increase around the time of the olive harvest season as settlers target olive trees and agricultural land.

On Tuesday the Palestinian Authority demanded protection for Palestinian farmers.

The PA called for "immediate protection for our people" and held the Israeli government fully responsible for the escalation of "settler terrorism against our people, their property, and sources of income."

The statement came after Jewish extremists cut down over 120 olive trees on private Palestinian land in Nablus, according to a Palestinian Authority official.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian affairs reported that over 2,500 olive trees were destroyed in September 2011, and 7,500 throughout 2011.