Israeli forces disrupt activists attempt to plant olive trees
Channel: aicvideo
Date: 2014-01-15

Israeli forces disrupted Palestinians and Israeli activists attempting to plant olive trees Monday on privately owned Palestinian land between the Israeli settlements El'azar and Efrat. All Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. The land belongs to Ibrahim Mousa of the Bethlehem-area village of Al Khader, who had given permission for the event, which included Israeli solidarity activists from Combatants for Peace. 

The truck delivering the olive tree seedlings was delayed by a "flying" Israeli checkpoint south of Bethlehem. As the truck attempted alternative routes to reach the site, several activists decided to block the nearby entrance to El'azar settlement, causing security staff to close the main gate and temporarily freezing traffic in and out of the settlement.

Following this brief protest, as the olive seedlings finally made it to the site, 20 or so Israeli soldiers and policemen arrived and prevented activists from planting trees, declaring the area a "closed military zone." Three Palestinians, presumably targeted as activist leaders, were arrested after the event as they were leaving the area in their cars. After several hours in custody, they were released later that same day.