Region | Palestinian Territories
Israel extends curfew in Palestinian town
Israeli soldiers fired teargas and stun grenades on Monday to stifle protests against a West Bank barrier, declared illegal by the World Court four years ago this week.
- Reuters
- Published: 17:16 July 7, 2008
West Bank: Israeli soldiers fired teargas and stun grenades on Monday to stifle protests against a West Bank barrier, declared illegal by the World Court four years ago this week.
The army kept a curfew on the Palestinian town of Nilin for the fourth day, using force to keep a small group of protesters and journalists from approaching the cordoned-off town of 5,000 from an overlooking hilltop.
Ayman Nafi, the town's mayor, said vegetables, dairy products and some medicines were in short supply and the local pharmacy had not been allowed to open.
"They want to send a message: resisting the construction of the wall will inflect suffering and damage upon you," Nafi said by telephone. "Their policy will increase our determination to prevent them from erecting this racist wall."
The army imposed a curfew on Nilin, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, on Friday after violence erupted during protests at a barrier construction site.
An army spokesman said eight security personnel and two workers were hurt in protests in the area over the past month.
Israel says the network of razor-wire fences and concrete barricades helps to keep out Palestinian suicide bombers.
Palestinians say the barrier is a land grab that could deny them a contiguous and viable state.
Witnesses said that soldiers had arrested people who ventured outside.
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