WEST BANK: Israeli troops clash with Palestinian and Israeli activists at the construction site of Israel's barrier in Nilin village

Record ID: 559998

  • Title: WEST BANK: Israeli troops clash with Palestinian and Israeli activists at the construction site of Israel's barrier in Nilin village
  • Date: 12th August 2008
  • Summary: (MER-2) NILIN, WEST BANK (AUGUST 11, 2008) (REUTERS) BULLDOZER DIGGING AT CONSTRUCTION SITE OF BARRIER ISRAELI BORDER POLICEMEN GUARDING AT CONSTRUCTION SITE PALESTINIAN, ISRAELI AND INTERNATIONAL ACTIVISTS WALKING UP DIRT ROAD TOWARDS BARRIER CONSTRUCTION SITE POLICEMEN POINTING AT ACTIVISTS ACTIVISTS WITH PALESTINIAN FLAGS APPROACHING CONSTRUCTION SITE VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN CALLING ON ACTIVISTS TO WITHDRAW VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS SCUFFLING WITH POLICEMEN POLICEMAN FIRING TEAR GAS CANISTERS POLICEMEN HOLDING STUN GRENADES VARIOUS OF ACTIVISTS RUNNING AWAY AS STUN GRENADES EXPLODING PALESTINIAN WEARING PALESTINIAN FLAG ON HIS BACK THROWING STONES STUN GRENADES EXPLODING VARIOUS OF POLICEMEN FIRING TEAR GAS CANISTERS ACTIVISTS TALKING TO SECURITY MEN IN LOUD SPEAKER, SAYING 'COME HERE, COME HERE' POLICEMAN FIRING AT ACTIVISTS
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ZLHYE9GGY1AC6B2WRMSXVLEW
  • Story Text: Israeli border policemen clashed with activists who marched towards a construction site of Israel's West Bank barrier on Monday (August 11).
    Activists, some of whom were Palestinians and others Israelis who identify themselves as 'anarchists', marched on the barrier construction site in the West Bank village of Nilin, in a bid to disrupt construction.
    Police forces guarding the site, where bulldozers are working to prepare the ground for the erection of a fence, called on some 25 activists to back away from the site.
    Some activists threw stones at the forces.
    The forces then shot tear gas canisters and threw stun grenades to disperse the crowd of activists.
    There were no reports of injuries.
    In recent months, Nilin has been a frequent flashpoint between Israeli security forces and protesters against the Israeli-built barrier.
    Last week, at a military court, the Israeli army indicted two soldiers over their alleged role in firing a rubber-coated metal bullet at point-blank range at a bound and blindfolded Palestinian during a demonstration in Nilin.
    27-year-old Ashraf Abu-Rahma said that the bullet hit his left toe and that he received treatment from an army medic and was then released by the soldiers.
    The incident, which took place six weeks ago, was caught on videotape, shot by a Palestinian who received a camera from B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group.
    The barrier, a network of fences and walls, is reviled by Palestinians for taking in swathes of occupied land where they want a state. Israel calls the barrier a bulwark against suicide bombers and says it could be scrapped if there is peace.
    The World Court declared the planned 600-km (370-mile) barrier, more than half of which is completed, illegal two years ago but Israel has ignored the non-binding ruling.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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