Anti-Wall demonstration in Um Salamonah village near Bethlehem

Friday January 19, 2007 16:14 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC

At least 1500 Palestinian and international peace activists gathered in Um Salamonah village near the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday to protest the construction of the illegal Israeli wall on the village land.  

 Before the demonstration Friday prayers were conducted on the farm land, 700 dunams of which is intended for confiscation. If this goes ahead, much of the agricultural land which supplies the village's income will be annexed behind the wall or destroyed.

 Protesters were met by more than 100 Israeli soldiers and after chanting resistance slogans and waving flags for some time, decided to end the demonstration with the promise to return soon. No clashes with the army occurred, eyewitnesses told IMEMC.

 On Monday the village had been invaded by a large amount of soldiers and bulldozers; locals' non-violent resistance was met with tear gas, sound bombs, and physical assault.  

bethlehem | non-violent action | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org