WEST BANK: Demonstrators clash with Israeli troops during an anti-barrier protest.

Record ID: 565105

  • Title: WEST BANK: Demonstrators clash with Israeli troops during an anti-barrier protest.
  • Date: 23rd April 2006
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) JONATHAN POLAK, AN ISRAELI PEACE ACTIVIST SAYING: "Israel is building a barrier between this road and the people's land. A barrier which its entire purpose is to stop the movement of these people to their land so that Israel can confiscate the lands. As an Israeli I think this is my obligation to be here and stand with the people in their civilian efforts to resist the unjust occupation process of Israel."
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6PKN4PH0QQKXG6ZFADGJV36JU
  • Story Text: Dozens of protesters clashed with Israeli troops on Saturday (April 22) during a demonstration against the barrier Israel is erecting across the West Bank to separate itself from Palestinian territories.
    Israeli media reported that several demonstrators were injured during the violent protest near the West Bank town of Hebron.
    An Israeli army spokesman said the arrests took place after demonstrators entered a closed military zone, near the future route of the barrier.
    Palestinian villagers accompanied by Israeli and foreign peace activists arrived at the area to demonstrate against what they call a land grab.
    "Israel is building a barrier between this road and the people's land. A barrier which its entire purpose is to stop the movement of these people to their land so that Israel can confiscate the lands. As an Israeli I think this is my obligation to be here and stand with the people in their civilian efforts to resist the unjust occupation process of Israel," Jonathan Polak, an Israeli peace activist told Reuters Television just before he was arrested by Israeli police.
    Israel says that the barrier, a mixture of electronic fences and walls that encroach upon West Bank territory occupied in 1967 Middle East war, is meant to keep suicide bombers out of its cities.
    Palestinians call the barrier -- whose course encompasses Israeli settlements in the West Bank -- a disguised move to annex or fragment territory Palestinians seek for a future state in the occupied West Bank.
    The World Court declared the planned 600 kilometre (370 mile) barrier, more than half of which is completed, illegal but Israel has ignored the non-binding ruling.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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