Israeli bulldozers smash Palestinian olive trees ahead of annual harvest

AI Summary

Israeli military bulldozers destroyed Palestinian olive trees near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank days before the annual olive harvest, deeply affecting local villagers. The incident has heightened tensions in the area amid ongoing land disputes and conflict.

DEIR NIZAM, West Bank, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Palestinian villagers wailed over the mangled remains of their olive trees on Wednesday after Israel's military uprooted them with bulldozers, days ahead of the annual olive harvest, normally a source of joy for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Abd Alfattah Tamimi, who owns an olive grove on village land near Ramallah city, watched as a military bulldozer smashed the top of one of his trees and then tore its roots from the ground.