Felled olive trees (file)
Felled olive trees (file)Shomron Residents' Council

At an olive grove next to Mishor Adumim junction, in the Gush Edumin region east of Jerusalem, 225 saplings were uprooted over the weekend.

Yaniv Aharoni, who is in charge of land parcels in Gush Edumim, told Arutz Sheva Sunday that he and IDF Civil Administration officials, as well as police, arrived at the location together and counted 225 trees that has been destroyed – apparently last Friday night (Shabbat eve).

“There is an increase in vandalism, especially in recent days,” Aharoni said. “There is much damage to property and we are happy that there have not yet been casualties, although there have been attempts. Of course, we have contacted the enforcement elements and the police.”

Aharoni claimed that police have been dragging their feet, however. “We brought the police, on a silver platter, video documentation of people – who were caught – but police released them. The situation is that until today, there has not been a single case in which charges were filed.”

"We call on the enforcement establishment to wake up – it is unacceptable that people do what they want to on the ground, and are completely unfazed by the security forces.”