Guardian Unltd (Friday): Bitter harvest in West Bank's olive groves

[Jack Rabbit]

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Friday November 14

Bitter harvest in West Bank's olive groves
Jewish settlers wreck fruit of centuries of toil to force out Palestinian villagers
By Chris McGreal in Sawiya

Abdula Yusuf is too afraid to climb the rocky terraces beyond his village and see the damage for himself. "They'll kill me," he said, waving a hand at the container homes on the top of a neighbouring hill. "If they can do that thing to trees as old as the Roman times, they will not hesitate to do it to me."
The annual olive harvest in the occupied territories has once again been rocked by Jewish settlers and their now routine assaults on Palestinian pickers to plunder their crop. This year, the settlers have gone to new lengths which have brought unusual denunciations from the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, and even criticism from the settlers' own leaders.
Armed Israelis are systematically wrecking trees that have stood for hundreds of years and frequently provide the only livelihood for Palestinian families.
Rights groups estimate that more than 1,000 trees have been damaged or destroyed in recent weeks, some planted in the Roman era. Among the victims are Mr Yusuf and his neighbours in Sawiya village, south of Nablus. "We used to think they just wanted our olives, but it's about land," he said. "They want to expand their settlement: by cutting the trees, they can say the land is neglected and no one is taking care of it. And it's their excuse for getting their hands on it."

Read more.

[dArKeR]

1. Don't they have satellite photos of this area to show before and after

pictures? Or is the US still in exclusive contract for all satellite time from all satellites? I'd like to see that bill we're paying.

[rini]

2. Rabbis have gone to the area as a group

to stop the destruction of the crop.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Do you have more about that?

That sounds like it could be a small step in the right direction.