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HEBRON, May 5, 2012 (WAFA) –Israeli settlers Saturday destroyed vineyards in Beit Ummar, a town north of Hebron, by spraying them with toxic chemicals, according to a local activist.

Muhammad Awad, member of Beit Ummar National Committee against the Apartheid Wall and Settlements, told WAFA that settlers from the nearby Karmei Tsur settlement sprayed toxic substance on grape trees in private Palestinian land.

He said landowner Ali Awad was shocked when he came to his land by the scope of the damage done to dozens of his grape trees.

This was not the first time settlers use chemicals to destroy crops in the area, said Awad, adding that settlers annually destroy the crops during harvest season in an attempt to force farmers to abandon their land in a process to take it over for settlements expansion.

He said Israeli soldiers tried to prevent him from documenting the settlers’ attack and to confiscate his camera before he was able to get away.

R.Q./M.S.