Anti-fence protest (Archive photo)
Photo: Reuters
8 hurt in anti-fence protest
Six protesters, soldier and policeman sustain injuries during demonstration. Protesters say security forces fired at them for no reason, army says soldiers attacked with stones, Molotov cocktail
BIL’IN – Six protesters, an IDF soldier, and a Border Guard policeman sustained injuries during an demonstration against the West Bank security fence held near the Palestinian village of Bil’in and attended by hundreds of villagers, Palestinian public figures, and Israeli and foreign activists.
Two of the injured protesters sustained serious injuries, according to Palestinian sources.
The Palestinians say security forces opened fire at the protesters at the end of the protest, hurting one of them in the head, one in the abdomen, and two in the lower body. Two more demonstrators were reportedly hurt a short while later.
Protesters said there were no unusual events during the demonstration and claimed the Israeli forces fired for no reason.
First Molotov cocktail attack
However, the IDF says protesters hurled stones at the forces, wounding two of them. The army refrained from responding to the attacks at first, the IDF said, but later dispersed the protesters. Meanwhile, army officials said a Molotov cocktail was hurled by one of the protesters, marking the first such attack during an anti-fence protest in Bil’in.
Palestinian Authority representatives were among those attending the protest, as well as Hamas and Islamic Jihad members.
One of the Israeli activists who took part in the protest noted the fact that senior Palestinian figures are cooperating with Israelis indicates this is a joint struggle bringing together all forces opposed to the occupation in general, and the construction of the security fence in particular.
