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Photo credits: Zakaria Sadah from Rabbis for Human Rights

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Initial report: Video and photos of extreme right-wing activist caught attempting to cut down trees in the olive groves of the Palestinian village Talpit

Rabbis for Human Rights
PRESS RELEASE | March 5th 2014

Report from Palestinians: For the first time, an extreme right-wing activist was caught beyond a doubt attempting to destroy Palestinian trees in an olive grove belonging to the village Talpit. The man had a chainsaw with him and wore goggles to protect his eyes. The Palestinian villagers contacted Rabbis for Human Rights’ Palestinian field worker Zakaria Sadah, who hurried to the scene and called the police. Captured, the extremist, Zakaria, and the Palestinian villagers waited together for police to arrive. During this time, the photos were taken of the man which demonstrate clearly through his relaxed body language that he was not feeling threatened. After some time, the man attempted to attack Zakaria and the villagers with his chainsaw; he then ran off. Rather than harm the man or bring on violence, the Palestinians decided to retreat. The footage shows that the Palestinians blocked the man’s path but did not harm him or make any physical contact.

Zakaria also ensured that the police were handling the situation seriously and that nobody would harm the captured man.

The village of Talpit is located just east of Eli. Palestinians identified the extreme right-wing activist who was caught as the same man who had in the past photographed Palestinians in the village of Kariot pruning their olive trees, and attempted to pass the photos off as Palestinians destroying their own trees in order to frame settlers.

This incident marks the first time an extremist has been caught, without a doubt, in the act. Previously, extremists who were caught around Palestinian villages claimed “to be on a hike” or “on a jog” in the area.