An olive tree that was planted by New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind in the Jewish community of Shdema, between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, on Friday was uprooted by Israeli soldiers on Friday, according to coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin.

Elkin told Arutz Sheva's Hebrew news journal on Sunday that members of the committee for Jewish Shdema brought the tree to him and he planted it in his yard for safekeeping. He added that he looks forward to the day that he can return to Shdema and plant it, "sooner or later, preferably sooner."