Israeli soldiers hurt in barrier clashes
Four Israeli soldiers have been lightly injured after troops clashed with Palestinian youths at a weekly protest against Israel’s West Bank separation barrier.
Around 100 Palestinians, Israelis and foreign peace activists demonstrated in the village of Bilin, near Ram Allah, on Friday against the enormous barrier Israel is building along the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Between 15 to 20 Palestinian youths began hurling rocks at the soldiers, four soldiers were wounded lightly and IDF (army) used non-lethal means of dispersal,” an Israeli army spokeswoman said.
The incident came after Israeli and foreign activists had already dispersed, she said.
Peace activists and Palestinians demonstrate at least once a week in Bilin against the separation barrier, which Israel insists is necessary to prevent infiltration by West Bank militants.
The Palestinians say the controversial project is an attempt to grab their land and undermine the viability of their promised state.
Israel’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a section of the controversial West Bank separation barrier to be torn down as it imprisons thousands of Palestinian villagers in order to protect a Jewish settlement.
The United Nations’ International Court of Justice issued in 2004 a non-binding ruling that parts of the 650km barrier which criss-crosses the West Bank are illegal and should be torn down.
Israel has vowed to complete the project.