Sixty-five ancient olive trees, located in a field near the village of Kafr Kara in Wadi Ara, were vandalized on Saturday night by anonymous perpetrators who irreversibly damage the trees.

The orchard, which spreads across two and a half dunams (0.6 acres) and is managed by Jewish National Fund subsidiary Himanuta Ltd., was rented to a resident of Kafr Kara who makes a living as an olive grower. He reported seeing two individuals, unfamiliar to him, leaving the property, and when he arrived at the orchard he saw the destruction.

An official within Israel's defense establishment told Israel Hayom that the vandalism was likely nationalistically motivated. "The land renter complained at the Iron police department, which opened an investigation.

"The Arab residents of Wadi Ara trespass into pastures, steal, vandalize and build illegal structures. When the courts issue destruction orders they go on rampages of revenge, such as the destruction of the olive orchard owned by the state. The Quran prohibits the chopping down of olive trees, because the tree is considered holy. Anything that symbolizes the state is a target for them to damage. This is their gift for our Sukkot holiday," said the defense official.