- Title: WEST BANK: Israeli barrier protest spurs clashes in Bilin
- Date: 1st January 2011
- Summary: BILIN, WEST BANK (DECEMBER 31, 2010) (REUTERS) SMOKE BILLOWING DURING ANTI-ISRAELI BARRIER DEMONSTRATION, ISRAELI SOLDIERS IN DISTANCE VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS DEMONSTRATORS RUNNING AWAY FROM TEAR GAS GRENADES AS SMOKE SURROUNDS THEM (AUDIO OF TEAR GAS BEING FIRED) DEMONSTRATORS WITH MASKS; ONE WOMAN EXPERIENCING BREATHING DIFFICULTIES DUE TO TEAR GAS BREATHING INTO HANDKERCHIEF MILITARY VEHICLE POSITIONED BEHIND FENCE CLASHES ISRAELI FORCES DEPLOYED NEAR FENCE ISRAELI SOLDIERS RUNNING ALONG ROAD NEAR FENCE DEMONSTRATORS STANDING NEAR AMBULANCE VARIOUS OF TEAR GAS SMOKE BILLOWING AROUND AMBULANCE VARIOUS OF ISRAELI SOLDIERS STANDING ON PATH SMOKE BILLOWING FROM TEAR GAS GRENADES, TEAR GAS GRENADES BEING FIRED DEMONSTRATORS RUNNING AWAY AS TEAR GAS GRENADES ARE BEING FIRED MEDIA CREWS ISRAELI SOLDIERS FIRING TEAR GAS DEMONSTRATOR WITH PALESTINIAN FLAG WRAPPED AROUND HIS HEAD, SITTING WITH HIS HEAD DOWN TEAR GAS SMOKE BILLOWING PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD WALKING WITH DEMONSTRATORS AT BEGINNING OF DEMONSTRATION, WALKING ON ROAD LEADING TOWARDS BARRIER CONSTRUCTION SITE FLAGS / MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PRIME MINISTER SALAM FAYYAD SAYING: "Bilin represents the active, peaceful, popular resistance to the wall and to settlements which our people undertake in all the occupied territories on a daily basis, demonstrating their resilience through this (anti-barrier) movement, which is an important part of the national Palestinian struggle for freedom and independence as well as the political struggle initiated by the PLO led by President Abbas." PROTESTERS HOLDING FLAGS GATHERED IN VILLAGE BEFORE LEAVING IN THE DIRECTION OF BARRIER CONSTRUCTION SITE
- Embargoed: 16th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: West bank, West bank
- City:
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
- Reuters ID: LVA4XD6LEA9AB8RIRJ280X8R0158
- Story Text: Clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces break out during a demonstration against a barrier built by Israel to fence off the West Bank. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad visited the barrier at the start of the protest, held on the eve of Fatah's 46th anniversary.
About 250 protesters clashed with Israeli troops on Friday (December 31) during a demonstration against the Israeli-built West Bank barrier.
Israeli security forces fired tear gas to disperse the Palestinian protesters and some of their international supporters in the West Bank village of Bilin.
An Israeli army spokesperson said the protesters took part in a violent, illegal demonstration and hurled rocks at security forces.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad accompanied the protesters at the beginning of the demonstration, which was held on the eve of the 46th anniversary of the founding of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement.
Fayyad told Reuters Television that the protest made an important contribution to the Palestinian national struggle.
"Bilin represents the active, peaceful, popular resistance to the wall and to settlements which our people undertake in all the occupied territories on a daily basis," said Fayyad.
Israel began building its barrier of fences and walls at the height of the Palestinian uprising that began in 2000.
The barrier runs along most of the West Bank border, encroaching at many points on to West Bank territory.
Israeli leaders say the barrier is a temporary obstacle that could be removed once a peace agreement with the Palestinians is signed and attacks on Israel cease.
The International Court of Justice said in 2004 the barrier was illegal and should be taken down because it crossed occupied territory.
The demonstration was held a day ahead of the 46th anniversary for the founding of the Fatah movement, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Fatah was founded in 1965 and adopted the armed struggle to liberate Palestinian territories from Israeli occupation. The secular movement is the largest faction of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO). It signed the 1993 Oslo interim peace accords. The group dominated the Palestinian politics for some 40 decades until its Islamist rival, Hamas, defeated Fatah in 2006 parliamentary elections. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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