HEBRON, A group of extremist Israeli settlers attacked today Palestinian shepherds in the Hebron village of Al-Dhahiriya, while another group of settlers uprooted dozens of olive trees to the northwest of Hebron, in the southern occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

At least 20 settlers, under the protection of Israeli soldiers, attacked Palestinian shepherds in Zanouta area, in the village of al-Dhahiriya to the south of Hebron, causing injuries and bruises to one shepherd which necessitated his transfer to hospital. Another shepherd was detained by the soldiers.

Another group of settlers from the nearby illegal settlement of Adora uprooted at least 100 olive trees belonging to Palestinians in Khirbet al-Taybeh, in the town of Tarqumiya to the northwest of Hebron.

One of the farmers, Suleiman al-Ja’afrweh told WAFA that this is the fifth time settlers uproot trees in the area.

He said that settlers often attack farmers, their properties, and crops in the area, and threaten to kill them to force them to leave the area for the benefit of settlement expansion.

He said residents in the area have often expressed fear over their lives as a result of settlers’ ongoing attacks against them, which are carried out with the backing of Israeli forces.

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

Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency