If it turned out that Israelis were involved in the uprooting of olive trees belonging to Palestinians, the victims of the acts would receive compensation from the Israeli government, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Thursday.
The subject of uprooted trees came up at a meeting between the defense minister, Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, and security officials.
| Settlers Blamed |
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| Palestinian: Settlers uprooted 120 trees / Efrat Weiss |
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Police launch investigation into cutting of 120 olive trees in West Bank Palestinian village. Residents claim settlers were behind crime; police say villagers may have caused damage to get compensations |
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The meeting also dealt with Qassam rocket firings, and the situation on the northern border.
In the course of the meeting, it was reported that over 1,000 olive trees were uprooted in Samaria, according to Palestinian reports.
'Scandalous'
Mofaz described the incidents as "scandalous" and said that it was unacceptable for a state guided by and morality to accept such a situation.
He then ordered the setting up of an investigations committee, to be made up of police representatives, the IDF, and the Shin Bet, in order to track down those uprooting the trees and harming the Palestinian economy.
Recently, a spate of incidents involving uprooting trees took place. According to reports, settlers took hundreds of olive trees belonging to Palestinians.
Samaria police investigators and forensic crews were sent out to the Borin village, in the vicinity of Nablus, following a complaint about damage to 120 trees belonging to Palestinians.
Deputy Head of the Borin council, Ali Ayad, told Ynet: "I can't believe that after five years, the police and army have not succeeded in getting their hands on a single suspect. There are over 5,000 trees cut down and burned, and this after over 100 sheep were burned, and dozens of homes plundered."
He said that the recent investigation "did not result in any settlers being arrested, just like the last investigation."
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