Reuters journalist among two injured at anti-wall protest

Date: 03 / 04 / 2009  Time:  18:01
Bethlehem - Ma'an -

Two journalists were injured by Israeli occupation terrorist soldiers in a demonstration over the Israeli constructed separation barrier in the West Bank village of Bil'in on Friday.

One of the injured journalists, photographer Sa'ed Hawwari, works for the UK-based Reuters news agency, according to protest organizer Iyad Burnat in a telephone interview with Ma'an. He was taken to a hospital in Ramallah after suffering a gunshot in the leg, presumably from a rubber-coated bullet.

Dozens were injured by tear gas that was fired on the demonstrators as they approached the separation barrier near the village.

The demonstration came within a week of Land Day, which marks the killing of six unarmed demonstrators in the Galilee over the confiscation of their land. Hundreds of others were either injured or arrested in the ensuing clashes.

Dozens of Palestinian, Israeli and international peace activists participated in the march organized by the Popular Committee Against the Wall, which holds weekly anti-wall demonstrations every Friday after noon prayers.

Demonstrators raised Palestinian flags and banners reflecting their rejection of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, urging unity in the face of confiscated land, as one said, or another that called settlements "a cancer that threatens the Palestinian presence and the possibility of a future Palestinian state."

Others demonstrated against "the Judaization of Jerusalem," the siege on the Gaza Strip and the demolition of homes, as well as the wall and West Bank settlements.

According to a statement sent to Ma'an, demonstrators moved through the streets of the village toward the wall to cross into land owned by some of the Palestinians present, but Israeli soldiers closed the gate and fired rubber-coated bullets and tear gas canisters toward the crowd.

Dozens were injured by the gas, including the Reuters journalist and another identified as Rebhi Alkobari, a photographer working with a local media network.

Earlier, Israeli soldiers carried out an invasion of the village for three days, where they fired stun grenades and tear gas canisters, as well as rubber-coated bullets. Residents responded by blocking the village's streets and throwing stones at the Israeli military vehicles.

Meanwhile, two Palestinians sustained bruises and dozens of others choked after being attacked by the Israeli army in the Al-Ma’sara village south of Bethlehem on Friday.

The residents were commemorating the 33rd anniversary of Land Day.

Clashes erupted between the Israeli soldiers and demonstrators, during which Yousef Zawahrah, 22, and Usaid Buriejeih, 12, sustained bruises after being beaten by soldiers.

Palestinian Legislative Council Member Mustafa Al-Barghouthi delivered a speech in which he denounced Israeli policies carried out against Palestinians.