Israeli Troops Attacked Weekly Non-Violent Protests; Three injured, Seven Arrested

Ramallah – PNN – Three injured and seven arrested, as Israeli troops attacked anti-wall protests organized in a number of West Bank communities on Friday.

Protests took place in the villages of al-Nabi Salleh, Bil’in, and Nil’in in the central West Bank, as well as al-Ma’ssara and Beit Omer in the south.

At the village of Beit Omer, troops used rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas to attack protests injuring at least three and arresting two. The protest in Beit Omer started after the midday prayers and villagers were joined by international and Israeli supporters demanding the end of settlement construction and the wall on local farmers lands.

In the nearby al-Ma’sara village soldiers attacked protestors before leaving and did not allow them to reach their lands where Israel is building the wall. Soldiers then fired tear gas at protesters forcing them back into the village.

In central West Bank on Friday, Israeli troops attacked the weekly anti-wall protest in the village of Nil’in, where the residents and their Israeli and international supporters were holding midday prayers on lands near the Israeli wall, protestors then marched up to the wall. Troops fired tear gas at protesters causing many to suffer from tear gas inhalation. Activists managed to raise Palestinian flags before troops forced them back.

Nearby, in the village Bil’in, a group of Italian supporters joined the villages and marched up to the land the army gave back to the people. When they reached the new section of the wall, soldiers fired tear gas at them, many were treated for tear gas inhalation. Soldiers also fired live rounds but no injuries were reported. Some trees also caught fire when troops fired tear gas bombs near to them.

Last month Israel removed the old wall built on villager’s property after six years of weekly protests by the people of Bil’in. The rerouting of the wall gave back the farmers half of the land taken by the military.
Also in central West Bank, In al-Nabi Salleh, villagers and their Israeli and international supporters marched to local farm lands Israel took to build a new settlement. Troops attacked protesters with tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets. Soldiers then arrested three Palestinians and one Israeli and clashed with local youth while attacking people homes with tear gas, many were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

PNN - Palestine News Network