Saturday, May 28, 2011

Israel has killed 7 so far in anti-wall protests/ Villagers have vowed to continue the protests despite Israel's suppression  http://www.qodsna.com/NewsContent-id_37224.aspx

Israeli forces shut down anti-wall protests in villages across the West Bank on Friday.Palestinians, Israelis and foreign nationals join such protests every Friday in villages along the 'separation wall', which runs deep inside the West Bank and confiscates villagers' land.The International Court of Justice and Israel's Supreme Court have ruled that the route of the wall is illegal under international law.In Nil'in, the wall cuts off around one third of the village. On May 20, protesters marked the third anniversary of non-violent protests against the wall.

Since 2008, Israeli forces have killed five Palestinians and injured hundreds more at demonstrations in the village.On Friday, the army installed a checkpoint at the entrance to Ni'lin, stopping activists from joining the rally. Troops fired tear-gas grenades into fields, setting fire to over 100 olive trees, witnesses said.At a simultaneous rally in Nabi Saleh, soldiers declared a closed military zone and detained 6 protesters for entering the area and "hurling rocks" at forces.In Al-Ma'sara, south of Beit Lahm ('Bethlehem'), more than 30 international activists joined the weekly demonstration against the wall, but Israeli forces shut down the rally.

Popular committee coordinator Mahmud Zawahra said villagers would continue to protest Israel's confiscation of their land "despite Israel's suppression." Israeli forces frequently raid villages which participate in non-violent resistance and detain protest organizers and residents, including children.In Ni'lin, entering its fourth year of protests, popular committee member Salah Khawaja said that despite Israel's military campaign against the village, the demonstrations would continue."We lost five people, 700 have been injured and 150 arrested, many of them children.

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