Bilin rally, Friday
Security forces disperse protestors in Naalin (archives)
Photo: AFP
Report: 2 protestors badly injured in Naalin
According to Palestinians, injuries caused by tear gas grenade, live ammunition. IDF says only two people lightly hurt in West Bank village. Soldier lightly wounded in anti-fence demonstration in Bilin
Anti-fence rallies in Ramallah area lead to violent clashes between Palestinians and security forces once again: A 20-year-old Palestinian was seriously injured Friday afternoon after being hit in the head by a tear gas grenade in the West Bank village of Naalin, according to protestors who took part in a demonstration against the separation fence being built in the area.
According to the army, some 400 Palestinians, left-wing activists and foreign nationals hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at the security forces stationed in the area and set tires on fire.
Another person was moderately wounded by live ammunition, the protestors added. According to the Israel Defense Forces, only two people were lightly injured in the clashes.
Legalities
Aviad Glickman
State Prosecutor's Office demands police update procedures pertaining to use of crowd control measures to break up riots; order follows several cases in which demonstrators were injured
The forces fired back at the demonstrators, using crowd dispersal means. According to a report received by the Coordination and Liaison Authority, two Palestinian protestors were lightly injured.
According to the Palestinian version, police and Border Guard officers brutally attacked the protestor before they even began demonstrating.
In addition, the Palestinians said, the police and soldiers continued to direct the tear gas canisters straight towards them, as they had done in previous incidents several weeks ago which led to the death of one protestor and to the serious injury of another.
The Palestinians added that five protestors were hurt by inhaling tear gas.
The IDF said in a statement that "the use of crowd dispersal means was carried out in accordance with instructions and at a commander's approval. The security forces are forced to use these measures in light of the heavy violence in order to minimize injuries."
At the same time, an IDF soldier was lightly injured in an anti-fence demonstration in the nearby village of Bilin. Some 80 Palestinians, left-wing activists and foreign nationals attended the rally. They hurled stones at the security forces, who used crowd dispersal means against them.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report
