Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., February 24, 2008 Adar1 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:39 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

A Palestinian man taking part in a demonstration against the West Bank separation fence in the West Bank town of Bil'in on Friday. (Reuters) Last update - 05:44 23/02/2008 Over 20 activists hurt in clash with IDF at anti-separation fence rally By Meron Rappaport, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Bil'in  More than 20 activists were wounded Friday as Israel Defense Forces troops fired rubber bullets and tear gas grenades at protesters marking three years of struggle against the West Bank separation fence in the West Bank town of Bil'in. Among the wounded was an American activist. The IDF spokesman's office said that one soldier was hurt when a rock was hurled toward him, but that the IDF has no knowledge of wounded activists. Advertisement More than 1,000 people attended the milestone demonstration Friday, though the event is a weekly occurrence with several dozen activists gathering in Bil'in every Friday over the last three years to protest the separation barrier that imposes hardship on Palestinians living in the West Bank. Jonathan Pollack, one of the organizers of the demonstration, said that Friday's protest came six months after the High Court of Justice ruled on changes in the route of the barrier fence, but yet the state has done nothing to implement the court's ruling. Pollack added that when the protesters arrived at the site of the fence, the IDF stationed in the area began shooting rubber bullets and using tear gas grenades against the demonstrators. An American activist suffered head wounds and was taken to the West Bank city of Ramallah for medical attention. According to Pollack, some 2,500 people had taken part in the rally, 200 of them Israeli citizens. The IDF issued a statement estimating the participation in the rally at 1,000 people, and saying that the demonstrators hurled rocks at IDF troops at the scene, and therefore the soldiers used approved methods to disperse the crowd. Related articles: Court orders state to alter West Bank separation fence route at Bil'in Judge orders probe over Palestinian cameraman hurt in Bil'in Judge: Troops at fence protest were more violent than protesters Protest art - Now you see it, now they rip it down Bookmark to del.icio.us   Auschwitz gimmick U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick. 5 Stops in Galilee Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.   1.   If there is anything which more threatens 06:13  |  Mark Lincoln 23/02/08   2.   how about we be civil? 06:47  |  B. 23/02/08   3.   Violent "Peace" Protesters 08:15  |  Gina 23/02/08   4.   Mark 08:22  |  Gabriel 23/02/08   5.   maybe the demonstrators need to use rubber rocks... 09:12  |  eric 23/02/08   6.   blaming the protesters 09:13  |  whizbang 23/02/08   7.   protestors, gimme a break 10:17  |  Nerys 23/02/08   8.   Why does Israel allow them visas?? 10:56  |  The Judge 23/02/08   9.   Dear Gabriel 11:13  |  Navy Vet 23/02/08   10.   #5 - Eric, again you need to check your facts 12:02  |  JES 23/02/08   11.   Anti-Separation Fence Activists Are Result Of Medias Sorcerers 12:11  |  Joseph . E 23/02/08   12.   Haaretz`s reporting biased and unreliable 13:03  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 23/02/08   13.   Crime state Israel 13:39  |  Dav 23/02/08   14.   Israel fairplay 14:02  |  Dav 23/02/08   15.   Journalism? 18:27  |  Adam 23/02/08   16.   Let the Egyptian Police deal with the Protestors 20:25  |  Proud Israeli 23/02/08   17.   My response 20:40  |  Fair Play 23/02/08   18.   My compliments to the photographer 21:14  |  AliciaYasmeen 23/02/08   19.   Rachel Corrie - angel of peace 21:42  |  avi 23/02/08   20.   # 10 to jes in israel 21:45  |  eric 23/02/08   21.   Thats not "throwing" 10:02  |  Hello! 24/02/08

Today Online IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border Responses: 76 Gideon Levy: The Jerusalem issue is easy - half for Jews, half for Palestinians Responses: 1 Zvi Bar'el: George Bush is nowhere to be found in Israeli-Palestinian reality Responses: 1 Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable' Responses: 29 Neo-Nazi turns Haredi after discovering his Jewish roots Responses: 18 Rosner's Domain Iran Could Have Enough Uranium for a Bomb by Year's End (WTR) Poll: Is it time for Israel to end the blockade in Gaza? What America wants from an operation in Gaza Guests: Jewish women don't want to be shut out U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation More Headlines 08:08 IDF braces for mass march on Gaza border 10:26 PM: We won't fortify every building in Gaza area or Sderot 08:42 Neo-Nazi turns ultra-Orthodox after discovering Jewish roots 09:02 IDF downplays allegations West Bank troops abuse Palestinians 21:59 Foreign Ministry: IAEA report proves Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons 09:53 ANALYSIS: Iran's delay tactics include denying, lying, refusing 05:54 Study: Palestinian suicide bombers 'not mentally unstable' 10:17 Five Palestinians killed in IDF Gaza actions over the weekend 05:57 Bar-Ilan scholar recants controversial blood libel theory 22:09 Abducted IDF soldier's brother: We're afraid he'll be next Ron Arad 08:09 Sderot mayor denies calling for cease-fire talks with Hamas Previous Editions Select Day 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb

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