WEST BANK: Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters clash outside West Bank prison

Record ID: 560196

  • Title: WEST BANK: Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters clash outside West Bank prison
  • Date: 1st April 2010
  • Summary: OFER PRISON, WEST BANK (MARCH 31, 2010) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS WALKING TOWARDS OFER PRISON AREA BANNER WITH PHOTO OF PALESTINIANS ARRESTED ON MARCH 28TH PROTEST ISRAELI BORDER POLICEMAN STANDING BEHIND FENCE PROTESTERS CHANTING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING PALESTINIAN AND FATAH FLAGS, STANDING NEAR FENCE CLOSE TO OFER PRISON MORE OF ISRAELI BORDER POLICEMEN BEHIND FENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FATAH MEMBER ZIAD ABU EIN, SAYING: "We are here demonstrating solidarity with the leader Abbas Zaki. We believe that Israel committed a crime against the Palestinian people and leaders by arresting the leader Abbas Zaki." BANNER READING IN ARABIC "RELEASE THE LEADER ABBAS ZAKI AND ALL THE POPULAR RESISTANCE LEADER" VARIOUS OF STONES FLYING TOWARDS ISRAELI POLICE JEEPS THROUGH METAL FENCE PALESTINIAN YOUTH HURLING STONES TOWARDS ISRAELI FORCES VARIOUS OF ISRAELI BORDER POLICEMEN SHOOTING TEAR GAS TOWARDS PROTESTERS MORE OF PALESTINIANS HURLING STONES TOWARDS BARRIER, TEAR GAS GRENADE EXPLODING NEAR BY AND YOUTHS RUNNING AWAY TENS OF PROTESTERS HURLING STONES GATE OPENS, POLICE JEEPS DRIVING THROUGH YOUTHS HURLING STONES FROM TOP OF ROOF POLICEMAN SHOOTING TEAR GAS TOWARDS PROTESTERS WHO ARE STANDING ON HILL VARIOUS OF TEAR GAS SMOKING NEAR PROTESTERS MORE OF ISRAELI POLICEMAN SHOOTING TEAR GAS TOWARDS PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 16th April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAA7223GQMZEGCLX6ABVNS98UDZ
  • Story Text: Israeli border police forces and Palestinian protesters clashed on Wednesday (March 31) during a demonstration near a West Bank prison. The demonstrators were protesting against the arrest of ten protesters earlier in the week, among them Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki.
    A few hundred protesters gathered outside the Ofer prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah to protest the arrests of Palestinians who demonstrated on March 28, demanding free access to religious sites for members of all religions.
    The protest where the arrests were made took place on Palm Sunday, as many West Bank Christians were denied access to Jerusalem by Israel.
    Reuters video showed tens of Palestinians hurling rocks towards Israeli border police forces deployed near the prison. The policemen used stun grenades and tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
    An Israeli border police spokesperson said that forces were called to disperse a riot near Ofer prison, and used riot dispersal means. The spokesperson added that two border policemen were injured. No Palestinian wounded were reported.
    On Sunday (March 28) Palestinians, internationals and Israeli left wing supporters demanded free access to holy sites in Jerusalem, by briefly breaking through the West Bank Bethlehem checkpoint. Israeli border police drove them back and arrested 12 people including Zaki. The organizers released a written statement, saying the purpose of the demonstration was to speak out against the restrictions placed on religious worship within Jerusalem.
    Palestinian sources say that Zaki was received an offer saying he would be released if he pledged to refrain from similar actions in the future, but declined and preferred to remain in custody with the rest of the arrested.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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