Israelis joined Palestinians in protest of security fence (archive photo)
Photo: Ata Awisat
Knesset member hurt in anti-fence rally
Arab Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi, senior PA official, sustain light injuries during clashes between security forces, protesters during anti-West Bank security fence demonstration; IDF troop loses sight in left eye
Arab Knesset Member Ahmad Tibi (Hadash – Ta’al) and senior Palestinian Authority official Ahmed Majdalani sustained light injuries Friday during a demonstration in protest of the West Bank security fence, Palestinian sources said.
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According to the sources, eight other demonstrators were injured during the rally, one of them from a plastic bullet that struck him in the head.
One IDF troop lost the sight in his left eye after a stone hit him in the eye during the demonstration, which was held in the Palestinian village of Bil’in.
Hundreds of Palestinians, among them senior Palestinian Authority officials and senior Hamas member Hassan Yusuf participated in the rally, in addition to some 100 Israeli protesters.
Military sources said the protesters were permitted to pray during the rally after they had assured security forces they would disperse peacefully afterwards.
However, as the Friday prayer session ended the demonstrators began to hurl stones at the security forces present.
Border Guard policemen and IDF troops attempted to disperse the demonstrators, claiming the area was a closed military zone. According to the protesters, the security forces had not presented any documentation proving the area was indeed a closed military zone.
An Israeli demonstrator said soldiers and police officers injured 10 people, including one Israeli who was struck in the face with a rifle.
