Decline in incidents of settler violence since the start of 2015; increase in number of trees vandalized

In the first four months of 2015, OCHA recorded a total of 72 Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, of which 26 resulted in Palestinian injuries and 46 in damage to Palestinian property. On a monthly average, this represents a 33 per cent decrease compared to the monthly average for 2014 (18 vs. 27 incidents). The highest number of incidents during the first quarter of 2015 was recorded in Hebron governorate (29), followed by Ramallah governorate (13) compared with Nablus and Ramallah governorates during the equivalent period in 2014.

However, so far this year a total of 8,841 Palestinian trees and saplings were reportedly vandalized by Israeli settlers. On a monthly average, this represents the highest such figure since 2011 when OCHA began recording this indicator. The dramatic increase can be largely attributed to a single incident in January 2015, during which approximately 5,000 olive saplings planted in an area next to Turmusayya village (Ramallah) were uprooted, reportedly by settlers from the Shilo settlement outpost, Adei Ad.[1] While the extent of damage in this incident was exceptionally high, settler attacks targeting olive saplings that were planted or replanted in areas previously attacked have been on the rise during the past two years, particularly around Shilo settlement and outposts (Ramallah), and around Susiya, Ma’on and Asfar settlements in Hebron governorate.

The second largest incident resulting in damage to Palestinian-owned trees this year took place on 28 March. The Palestinian owners of a plot of land on which 1,200 olive saplings had been planted discovered that 1,100 saplings had been stolen and 100 uprooted and broken, reportedly by settlers. The land was located between the settlement of Asfar and the outpost of Pnei Kedem, near Ash Shuyukh village (Hebron), which is accessible only by settlers or by residents. A similar attack was recorded in February, during which 550 saplings in the vicinity of Asfar were uprooted.

So far in 2015, OCHA recorded (based on Israeli media reports) a total of 71 Palestinian attacks on Israeli settlers and other Israeli groups. The monthly average of such incidents is consistent with the average for the whole of 2014 (18). The majority of incidents involved stone throwing at passing Israeli vehicles. In addition, there were two incidents involving a Palestinian vehicle running over Israeli civilians and a physical assault involving the stabbing of an Israeli settler in East Jerusalem, which in total resulted in 26 injuries.