Protests in Nabi Saleh (Archives)
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Rain takes toll on anti-fence protests
Weekly West Bank protests see lower turnout, rioters throw stones at police in Jerusalem
Friday's weather affected the regular turnout of anti-fence protesters in the West Bank, but some 50 Palestinians, foreigners, and anarchists demonstrated in Bil'in in the afternoon. Protesters were also present in Nabi Saleh.
Violence in West Bank
Clashes that began with stone-throwing end with 10 injured, some of them Palestinians who were shot by soldiers, settlers; security officials believe leftist activity in area fueled violence
Yonatan Pollack, of the Anarchists against the Fence movement, told Ynet that a number of foreigners were arrested by security forces in Nabi Saleh.
However, he said, "because of the rainy weather the protests were relatively calm and there were very few protesters this week".
In east Jerusalem stones were thrown at Border Guard officers trying to make an arrest. In Abu Tir a number of teens clashed with officers. In both cases riot dispersal equipment was used.
Mahmoud Karin, of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, said the riots began after Friday prayers. He said police had not been able to make any arrests, however.
"In Abu Tir police closed off a street in order to keep people from entering in vehicles and being hurt by stones," Karin said. He added that officers had employed tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets, and water jets, and that a cameraman was injured by a rubber bullet that hit his leg near the protest tent in Silwan.
On Friday morning the tires of 23 vehicles were slashed in Sheikh Jarrah, in some cases all four tires.
The Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement said in response, "A moral stench rises from this crime. It is the stench of 'Jewish morals', which have rotted long ago and, like thieves, sows damage and fear. It is the same system of morals in whose name removal of families from their homes after 60 years is being justified."
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