VIDEO - Protestors mark fifth anniversary of anti-fence rallies: Some 1,200 people arrived in the West Bank village of Bilin, west of Ramallah, in order to protest against the separation fence being built in the area.The Palestinians reported that two protesters were injured in the demonstration.
Even before the rally began, its organizers pledged to bring many protestors in honor of the fifth anniversary of the village residents' struggle against the fence.
Some of the demonstrators dismantled parts of the fence. Defense establishment officials said that the fence was badly damaged and that many stones were thrown at the security forces stationed in the area. The forces prepared for the rally in advance and were ordered to keep their distance and avoid a direct clash with the protestors.
Palestinians reported that during the rally they had managed to take control of a military post in the area, but army officials explained that the facility was only used as a canopy for the security forces.
The rally was also attended by Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and politicians Mustafa Barghouti and Taysir Khalid.
The wives of Palestinian prisoners Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat were also present.
Friday's protest in Bilin
(צילום: רויטרס)
Fayyad and the other leaders said they support the popular struggle, and urged the international community to intervene and have the fence removed.
Dismantling part of fence on Friday (Photo: Activestills)
Defense establishment officials said this wasn't the first time the fence in the area had sustained damage, and that the damage caused by protestors in 2009 was estimated at NIS 400 million (about $107 million).
About 10 days ago, measurements commenced ahead of the anticipated changes in the route of a 1.7 kilometer (about a mile) section of the West Bank security barrier, which was built on land belonging to the village of Bilin.
It is estimated that it will be some time before the actual paving of the new route begins.
In 2007 the High Court of Justice ordered the State to partially dismantle and rebuild the fence so that it would not cut through Bilin. The barrier has been the focus of weekly demonstrations in the village for the past five years.
Efrat Weiss contributed to this report