BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces prevented Palestinian farmers and international solidarity activists from planting olive trees on private lands southeast of Bethlehem on Sunday.

Local land owner Hussein Asakra told Ma'an that the farmers headed to their private lands accompanied by dozens of solidarity activists in order to plant olive trees in the Ghozlan area near the Israeli settlement of Teqoa.

After the group had planted a hundred olive trees, Israeli forces approached them accompanied by settlers and forced the Palestinian farmers to leave their private lands at gunpoint.
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Israeli settlers often harass Palestinian farmers who live near settlements and target local olive trees for destruction. As a result, solidarity delegations of foreigners frequently accompany local farmers to protect them from attack.