Israeli soldiers on Wednesday shot and injured at least 17 Palestinians and one Israeli involved in a demonstration at a construction site for Israel's West Bank wall near the West Bank city of Ramallah, witnesses said.
Wednesday's incident took place near the Palestinian village of Burdos and was the second time in five days that the Israeli security opened fire at demonstrators gathered by the wall. Israeli sources said at least one policeman was wounded in this incident.
According to media reports, the protestors threw stones Wednesday at the bulldozers, which started preparing the ground for a new stretch of the fence. Israeli forces responded by using tear gas and rubber bullets. At least six people were arrested by the Israeli forces.
Palestinians consider the wall as "racist" and claim it has compelled thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes and made some houses get stuck between the separation wall and settlements.
Jonathan Pollak, a member of the Israeli Anarchists against the Wall organization, told Reuters that during Wednesday's incident, Israeli soldiers fired at the mostly Palestinian protesters as well as Israelis and foreigners. According to him, at least 10 Palestinians were hit and taken off for hospital treatment while an Israeli woman was slightly wounded in her leg. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
