Israel Matzav

With the different law enforcement agencies stepping up their involvement to combat the uprooting and destruction of Palestinian olive trees, security officials believe it will only be a matter of time before additional perpetrators are caught and brought to justice.

The sources warned that failure to act swiftly and aggressively to halt the malicious acts could lead to an escalation in violence.

"A farmer who is physically attacked and unable to work his fields could turn into a potential terrorist if the situation is left unchecked," a source said.

That's funny. Hundreds of farmers were physically removed from their land in Gaza this past summer. None of them are able to work their fields anymore, and most of them haven't even found work yet. But how many of them have become terorrists? Never mind - those are only Jews. /sarc

... In response, the defense minister appointed Mishlev to head an investigating committee, the sources said. Now, aside from the local district coordinating offices who continue to monitor the situation, IDF troops will become more actively involved as well as the Israel Police International and Serious Crimes Unit and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), the sources said. "Hopefully by pooling the resources and utilizing the experience each separate agency brings, the results will be more successful," one of them added.

All this for a bunch of trees? הלוואי they should put this much effort into finding those who kill Jews R"L!

"In some instances, Palestinian farmers complained that they felt the army was doing nothing to intervene, even though it is the sovereign body serving in the West Bank," one of the sources said.

Citing an example, he recalled that several months ago, an olive grove was set on fire that is located next to an IDF base not far from Eilon Moreh. "Soldiers guarding the base did nothing, even though the grove is located next to the fence surrounding the base," the source said
Meanwhile, the team led by Mishlev is also examining ways of compensating Palestinian farmers. However this will take time, as every plot damaged needs to be inspected by an assessor and estimates of monetary loss submitted, the sources said.

Would you like to be the one to complain to a bereaved parent that their son was killed in action because he went to put out a fire in a 'Palestinian' olive grove and was shot by Palestinian terrorists? Read it and weep over what has become of the State of Israel in 2006. We've been taken over by the Moonbats!