The Israeli settlers cut about 120 olive trees in a Palestinian village near the West Bank city of Nablus, a Palestinian official said Tuesday.

"The cutting is part of an annual campaign by the settlers to sabotage the trees in the olive harvest season," said Gabreen Al- Bakri, the governor of Nablus.

He added that the settlers came from a nearby Jewish settlements and cut the trees before Palestinian farmers arrived in the field.

Meanwhile, Israeli Radio reported that the Israeli police launched an investigation into the incident.

Iyad Haddad, a researcher at the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights (B'Tselem), said that the settlers' attacks are part of the "price tag" campaign.

"These attacks happen while the Israeli military is present or under the protection of the army," Haddad told Xinhua.