Israeli media skews Palestinian farming activity to make false allegations

Ma'an- ...The way an innocent farming initiative was edited to portray illegal activity "provides real insight into how Israeli media report news," he said noting the timing, as settlers struggle to explain a recent wave of violence and vandalism against Palestinians.

Since the start of the olive harvest last month, there have been scores of complaints about settlers cutting down trees, stealing olives or preventing farmers from harvesting their crops, rights groups and police say.

...But the witness to the event in Saffa said his footage showed Israeli authorities working with settlers to target farmers. He spotted Bet Ayin settlers on a hilltop overlooking the scene, and he filmed them communicating with others including, according to locals, intelligence officials who routinely operate in the area.

Soldiers soon arrived, and they arrested six of the eight internationals. "None of us was provided an explanation of why we were arrested, but rather just told to get in the jeeps by aggressive soldiers," the witness said. The internationals were interrogated and lectured, and their passports were photocopied. Read more