Israeli settlers cut Palestinians' trees

Palestinians march during a rally to support the Palestinian statehood bid in the United Nations, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011. The Palestinians brushed aside heated Israeli objections and a promised U.S. veto Monday, vowing to submit a letter formally requesting full U.N. membership when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the General Assembly. Number 194 represents the Palestinian hope to become 194th member of the UN. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-settlers-said-cut-palestinians-trees-113056908.html

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian villagers say Israeli settlers in the West Bank have set fire to dozens of acres of agricultural land and cut down about 500 olive, fig and almond trees.

Palestinian officials said Tuesday that settler attacks on Palestinian property have doubled in the past year, with 40 reported in the past month. Israeli police say a task force has been set up to deal with such cases.

It was not clear whether Monday's attacks near the villages of Einabous and Deir Istiya were linked to the Palestinian bid this week to win U.N. recognition for a state in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem.

Settlers were planning rallies later Tuesday. Organizer Boaz Haetzni says the message is that "this is our land and no Palestinian state will be here."