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by Chris Carlson - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Israeli settlers burned down a number of olive trees at dawn, this morning [Saturday, April 12, 2014].

Activist Ghassan Njagerh told Radio Bethlehem 2000 that the settlers burned about 27 olive trees planted near the fence of the illegal settlement of "Betar Illit", between the villages of Nahalin and Husan, west of Bethlehem.

He pointed out that the age of the trees was more than 40 years.

Settler groups are responsible for thousands of attacks against the Palestinians and their property in different parts of the occupied West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.

The attacks include attacking, burning and trying to burn mosques and churches, torching Palestinian crops and farmlands, uprooting hundreds of trees, including ancient olive trees, breaking tombstones and writing racist, anti-Islamic and anti-Christian graffiti, puncturing tires of Palestinian vehicles, burning cars and many other similar assaults.

The number of Israeli settlers living in various settlements in the occupied West Bank, including in an around occupied East Jerusalem, is more than 500.000, while Israel is ongoing with its illegitimate settlement construction and expansion activities.

Settlements violate International Law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which Israel is a signatory.