GAZA: PALESTINIANS CLASH WITH ISRAELI IN BETHLEHEM OVER THE ISRAELI-IMPOSED CLOSURE, WHILE PROTESTERS IN WEST BANK PASS PEACEFULLY

Record ID: 399996

  • Title: GAZA: PALESTINIANS CLASH WITH ISRAELI IN BETHLEHEM OVER THE ISRAELI-IMPOSED CLOSURE, WHILE PROTESTERS IN WEST BANK PASS PEACEFULLY
  • Date: 23rd August 1997
  • Summary: BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (AUGUST 23, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SV MASKED PALESTINIANS PROTESTING, MARCHING IN THE STREETS (4 SHOTS) 0.29 2. LV ISRAELI SOLDIERS PLACING ROAD BLOCK IN ROAD (NEAR RACHEL'S TOMB) 0.41 3. SLV PALESTINIANS SCUFFLING WITH ISRAELI SOLDIERS OVER ROAD BLOCK. 0.53 4. LV/SLV OF PALESTINIANS THROWI
  • Embargoed: 7th September 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BETHLEHEM, KATANA, WEST BANK AND GAZA CITY, GAZA
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVACCY455MGQS8BSZJ6T9MYMH73F
  • Story Text: Palestinians have clashed with Israelis in Bethlehem over the Israeli-imposed closure, while protests in the West Bank against the demolition of homes passed peacefully.

    Israeli troops fired tear gas at Palestinian youths who threw stones on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Saturday (August 23), witnesses said.

    They said some 300 Palestinians protesting against an "internal closure" that Israel has kept on Bethlehem since a July 30 bombing of a Jerusalem market marched from the centre of the self-rule enclave toward Rachel's Tomb, a shrine guarded by Israeli troops.

    The demonstrators chanted: "With our lives, with our blood we fight for you, Palestine".

    Some 50 youths broke away from the main group of marchers when troops blocked them from reaching the shrine and began throwing stones. The rest of the protesters dispersed when the troops then fired tear gas.

    There were no reports of casualties.

    After the twin suicide bombing on the market in which 16 people including the two attackers died, Israel sealed off the West Bank and Gaza Strip and imposed "internal closures" on West Bank self-rule enclaves, placing them under virtual siege.

    It said it would ease the measures if Palestinian President Yasser Arafat cracked down on militants in his territory. Israel threatened that if Arafat did not do the job, it would.

    The internal closures were gradually lifted from all towns except Bethlehem, which as the traditional birthplace of Jesus is a tourist draw. The general closure remains in force.

    Meanwhile in Katana near Ramallah in the West Bank Palestinian and Israeli Peace Now activist protested Israeli house demolishing in the area.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register