Bethlehem:Israeli colonists, reportedly shielded by Israeli occupation forces, have been accused of stealing freshly harvested olives from Palestinian farmers in the town of al-Khader, located south of Bethlehem.
According to Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA – English, the incident occurred on Saturday when the colonists allegedly attacked local resident Hassan Salah and his family. The family was in the midst of picking olives in the al-Sawana area, west of the town, when they were confronted. The colonists reportedly detained the family, questioned and photographed them, and subsequently forced them off their land.
The colonists are also accused of stealing the olives the family had harvested, along with their harvesting equipment, and issuing threats to deter them from returning to their land in the future.