Israeli forces shut down Hebron tree planting

January 1, 2010

Hebron – Ma’an – Israeli authorities banned a group of Palestinians from planting trees near the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday after settlers disrupted their work, organizers said.

Dozens of Palestinian residents were planting trees in the Al-Buwiryah area, near the settlement of Kiryat Arba, responding to a call from senior Fatah leaders.

Members of the group said settlers arrived in the area, interrupting the planting. Israeli soldiers on the scene declared the area a closed military zone and confiscated a number of trees, participants said.

The soldiers also ordered a Palestinian photojournalist, Nasser Ash-Shyukhi, not to photograph the incident.