Eco Terrorism in Israel

<http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122107> Arabs Uproot 100s of Jewish Trees and Grape Vines in Gush Etzion Ezra HaLevi Residents of the Gush Etzion hilltop community of Sde Boaz had hundreds of grape vines and scores of fruit trees uprooted and destroyed Friday. The latest vandalism, though the most costly yet, is just the latest in a string of attacks on the community.s property. The agricultural, eco-friendly community, located about a mile north of the town of Neve Daniel, was victim to a similar attack on the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shvat earlier this year, when one of its orchards was destroyed. Systematic Destruction of Community.s Agriculture Residents of the agricultural community said that in addition to the destruction of the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and fruit trees Friday, expensive irrigation systems were damaged and stolen as well. The vandals used donkeys to plow under the hundreds of vines and uproot the fruit trees. .This carob tree was planted so our grandchildren could eat of its fruits,. said resident Gideon Kelman, holding the broken remains one of the slow-growing trees. .They have destroyed that.. The milk cartons were used by the Gush Etzion Winery to protect the young vines from deer . Most of the vines were taken, though a few dozen lay strewn about Amit Barak, a native of the Galilee city of Nazereth and now in charge of security in Sde Boaz, said that the entire incident happened during a three-hour window period Friday morning. .Someone went down this morning to prune his vines and everything was fine, and then, just a few hours after he finished, we noticed everything had been destroyed.. The vineyards and fruits trees were located on terraces lower down on the unfenced community.s hillside that cannot be seen from the community itself, where the IDF and residents conduct regular patrols. Irrigation was dragged down to the valley, though some hoses caught on rocks and were left behind on the way Residents followed the trail and found some of the irrigation stashed nearby in the hope, ostensibly, that the vandals would be able to come back for it later Left-Wing Incitement Heralds Destruction and Attacks Arabs and leftists have been frequenting the vicinity on almost a weekly basis since the initial attack on the community.s orchard. That attack took place in a valley below the community as residents stood by peacefully on the Sabbath of Tu B.Shvat, refusing to respond to the provocations by the crowd of foreign activists, who later attacked IDF soldiers attempting to carry out an arrest. Last week, foreign activists, at least one claiming to be a journalist, engaged residents in an hours-long discussion regarding Jewish rights to live in Judea, Samaria and Israel as a whole. The foreigners, from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Palestine Solidarity Movement (PSM), Taayush and other groups, claimed to be on a fact-finding tour and were accompanied by local Arab handlers.

<p>&lt;<a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122107&gt;">http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122107&gt;</a><br /> Arabs Uproot 100s of Jewish Trees and Grape Vines in Gush Etzion<br /> Ezra HaLevi</p> <p>Residents of the Gush Etzion hilltop community of Sde Boaz had<br /> hundreds of grape vines and scores of fruit trees uprooted and destroyed<br /> Friday. The latest vandalism, though the most costly yet, is just the latest<br /> in a string of attacks on the community.s property.</p> <p>The agricultural, eco-friendly community, located about a mile north<br /> of the town of Neve Daniel, was victim to a similar attack on the<br /> Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shvat earlier this year, when one of its orchards<br /> was destroyed.</p> <p>Systematic Destruction of Community.s Agriculture<br /> Residents of the agricultural community said that in addition to the<br /> destruction of the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and fruit trees<br /> Friday, expensive irrigation systems were damaged and stolen as well. The<br /> vandals used donkeys to plow under the hundreds of vines and uproot the<br /> fruit trees.</p> <p>.This carob tree was planted so our grandchildren could eat of its<br /> fruits,. said resident Gideon Kelman, holding the broken remains one<br /> of the slow-growing trees. .They have destroyed that..</p> <p>The milk cartons were used by the Gush Etzion Winery to protect the<br /> young vines from deer . Most of the vines were taken, though a few dozen lay strewn about</p> <p>Amit Barak, a native of the Galilee city of Nazereth and now in<br /> charge of security in Sde Boaz, said that the entire incident happened during<br /> a three-hour window period Friday morning. .Someone went down this<br /> morning to prune his vines and everything was fine, and then, just a few<br /> hours after he finished, we noticed everything had been destroyed..</p> <p>The vineyards and fruits trees were located on terraces lower down<br /> on the unfenced community.s hillside that cannot be seen from the community<br /> itself, where the IDF and residents conduct regular patrols.</p> <p>Irrigation was dragged down to the valley, though some hoses caught<br /> on rocks and were left behind on the way<br /> Residents followed the trail and found some of the irrigation<br /> stashed nearby in the hope, ostensibly, that the vandals would be able to<br /> come back for it later</p> <p>Left-Wing Incitement Heralds Destruction and Attacks<br /> Arabs and leftists have been frequenting the vicinity on almost a<br /> weekly basis since the initial attack on the community.s orchard. That<br /> attack took place in a valley below the community as residents stood by<br /> peacefully on the Sabbath of Tu B.Shvat, refusing to respond to the<br /> provocations by the crowd of foreign activists, who later attacked<br /> IDF soldiers attempting to carry out an arrest.</p> <p>Last week, foreign activists, at least one claiming to be a<br /> journalist, engaged residents in an hours-long discussion regarding Jewish<br /> rights to live in Judea, Samaria and Israel as a whole. The foreigners, from<br /> the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Palestine Solidarity<br /> Movement (PSM), Taayush and other groups, claimed to be on a fact-finding<br /> tour and were accompanied by local Arab handlers.</p>