- Title: WEST BANK: Israel imposes curfew on West Bank village over barrier protests
- Date: 6th July 2008
- Summary: (W3) NI'LIN, WEST BANK (JULY 5, 2008) (REUTERS) ***EDITOR PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING*** AMATEUR VIDEO SHOWING ARMY JEEPS DRIVING TOWARDS VILLAGE VILLAGE YOUTHS HURLING STONES TOWARDS ISRAELI FORCES SMOKE FROM SMOKE GRENADE THROWN TOWARDS BOYS BULLET-RIDDLED CAR CLOSE OF HOUSE WINDOW THAT WAS DAMAGED BY ISRAELI BULLETS WIDE OF PALESTINIAN TEENAGERS, EXPLOSION FROM ISRAELI SHOOTING PALESTINIAN YOUTHS GATHERED IN VILLAGE STREET (AUDIO: SHOOTING) TEENAGERS WALKING NEAR FIRES BURNING IN THE STREET YOUTHS WALKING BY TURNED OVER GARBAGE CANS MORE OF FIRE IN THE STREET CLOSE OF ROCKS PLACED ON THE ROAD IN ORDER TO BLOCK MILITARY JEEPS FROM PASSING FLARE IN VILLAGE SKYLINE
- Embargoed: 21st July 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAAOPJ6L0WXYDFOYIYTZ62LEJ39
- Story Text: Israeli forces cordon off a West Bank village after fierce clashes over the controversial separation barrier.
Israeli troops imposed a curfew on a Palestinian village on Sunday (July 6) in what the army called an effort to curb protests against the construction nearby of the controversial West Bank barrier.
Eye-witnesses reported that Israeli troops clashed with residents of Ni'lin, near the Palestinian city of Ramallah, which has been cordoned off since Friday (July 4), to prevent would-be demonstrators against the barrier from entering the village.
The army first cordoned off the village after 20 protesters were hurt by rubber bullets fired by Israeli security forces in anti-barrier demonstrations.
The blockade involved declaring the construction site a "closed military zone," a sweeping measure that did not appear to provide for any peaceful demonstrators to access the area.
On Sunday (July 6), a handful of Palestinian protesters, who marched from the neighbouring village of Bil'in, a past flashpoint of violent clashes, staged a demonstration near the forces but were prevented access to the village.
The barrier, condemned internationally for taking in occupied land, is a network of razor-wire fences and concrete barricades intended to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers, Israel says.
It also loops around Jewish settlement blocs, cutting off some West Bank villages from swathes of farmland. Construction sites are flashpoints for bloody confrontations between Israeli security forces and local Palestinians, who are often supported by left-wing protesters from Israel and abroad.
An Israeli army spokesman said the curfew was imposed "in light of recent violent incidents," where several soldiers and civilians were wounded, and in order for work to be carried out in the area.
One Israeli soldier was wounded in clashes inside the village on Sunday, the army said.
Hindi Mesleh, a resident of the village, called the curfew "collective punishment" against the villagers and said food and medical supplies were not permitted into the village.
Another Ni'lin resident, Mohammad Khawaja, said there were some 100 soldiers and 25 military jeeps in the village, stopping villagers from leaving their homes. He said about 50 people were wounded by tear gas and rubber bullets during Sunday's clashes.
Israel Radio said the closure would be reviewed by Tuesday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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