Residents of the northern town of Meron were horrified to find that one of the largest and oldest oak trees in the region had been cut down Monday night – on Tu B’Shvat, the Jewish New Year for trees.

The oak tree, which is along the path to Mitzpeh Harashim, had been damaged in the past and was being rehabilitated by park rangers and tree doctors.

Local Galilee Arabs have been known to start forest fires and cut tress down illegally for firewood.