Jewish settlers have set fire to at least 1,500 olive trees owned by Palestinians in the West Bank after officials evacuated a number of illegal buildings.

The assailants on horseback attacked the Palestinian farms on Monday and others stoned cars, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

A security official said two Palestinians had been wounded in the incident with five vehicles damaged near the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar, outside Nablus.

He estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 olive trees were burnt in the attack.

Jewish settlers had previously declared that they would respond to any move to dismantle illegal settlements in the occupied territory through violent attacks on Palestinians and their properties.

Police on Monday evacuated two buildings in three illegal outposts and demolished two homes in the Adei Ad outpost. Israeli officials, however, only evacuated recently-built illegal buildings and not the entire outpost.

A Palestinian official said the police and army are too lenient toward the settlers who attack Palestinians and their properties on a regular basis.

"The settlers are being encouraged by the Netanyahu government," said Rasan Darles.

Under a previous agreement, Tel Aviv must dismantle illegal settlements built in the West Bank, which was occupied by the forces loyal to the Zionist movement during the 1967 war.

(Press TV)