Bulldozing incident leaves West Bank farm fruitless
Family vows to replant orchard after it says 1,500 trees were destroyed by Israeli military.
Israeli authorities have reportedly destroyed nearly 1,500 fruit trees on a prominent West Bank farm known for promoting interfaith peace and reconciliation. The incident, which occurred weeks before harvest, has drawn criticism from the farm’s supporters.
The trees, belonging to the Tent of Nations, are located south of Bethlehem next to the Israeli Gush Etzion settlement bloc. The family said it recently appealed orders by the Israeli military declaring the orchard “state land” and demanding an end to its cultivation. The family said the military has yet to respond to its appeal.
The Stream contacted the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, but no one was available to comment at the time of publication.
Daoud Nassar, one of the farm’s owners, told The Stream via telephone that shepherds in the area saw Israeli military bulldozers destroying and taking the trees early Monday morning. A statement on the farm’s Facebook page describes the incident further: