Israeli settlers make West Bank olive groves a battleground

Donald Trump’s foreign policy appointments so far indicate his administration will take a much softer line on illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank and some may even support Israel’s plans – announced by its finance minister this week – to annex the territory completely.

The West Bank is integral to the creation of any future Palestinian state. And the land is considered internationally to belong to the Palastinians. But Israel has occupied the territory for over 50 years.

There are some parts of the West Bank that are partially administered by the Palestinian Authority.

Much of it though is directly controlled by Israel, and hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers now live there – and this is expanding at an unprecedented rate.

Our foreign affairs correspondent Paraic O’Brien reports from the village of Bayt Hassan.