JERUSALEM, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli human rights group Yesh Din said Monday it had documented 377 incidents of Israeli settler and soldier violence across 162 Palestinian communities in the West Bank over a two-week period ending Saturday.
In a statement, the group said the incidents included 58 cases of violence and physical assaults against olive harvesters, 57 cases in which Palestinians were prevented from harvesting, 100 incidents of crop theft and 34 cases of damage to or destruction of olive trees.
Israeli soldiers were present in at least 44 of the olive harvest-related incidents, representing 25 percent of the total, the group said.
It noted that the findings demonstrate a systematic pattern of violence aimed at preventing Palestinians from harvesting olives, damaging their livelihoods and forcing them off their land.
It also accused Israeli authorities of failing to enforce the law against violent settlers and soldiers, arguing that the lack of accountability enables continued attacks and restrictions on Palestinian farmers. ■
