Palestinians Block Israeli Bulldozers

Palestinians Blocked Israeli Bulldozers in alWalaja and Beit Jala

Some 200 demonstrators managed to halt the construction of the Wall in the village of alWalaja for almost three hours this morning. Two protesters – a Palestinian and an Israeli – were arrested. The Israeli dislocated his shoulder during the violent arrest, but is denied access to medical treatment at the police station.

More than 200 protesters – Palestinians, Israelis and international activists – managed to block bulldozers constructing Israel's Wall from uprooting an olive grove for over three hours this morning in the West Bank village of alWalaja, south of Jerusalem. Construction of th Wall on alWalaja's lands resumed last Thursday. Once completed, if completed it will surround alWalja from all sides – effectively is isolating the village from the rest of the world.

After roughly three hours, Military and Border Police forces managed to repel the demonstrators, arresting two – a Palestinian and an Israeli. During the violent arrest, Israeli protester Kobi Snitz's shoulder was dislocated by the Border Police officers. He is currently held at the Moria police station in Jerusalem, where he is denied access to medical treatment. Three others, an AP photographer and two demonstrators, were injured and evacuated to a hospital.

An Israeli bulldozer after being spray-painted in Beit Jala today. Picture is free for use

Construction of the Wall was also briefly disrupted in the town of Beit Jala, west of Bethlehem this morning. Roughly 100 demonstrators set out towards the town's groves where bulldozers have been uprooting olive trees at around 11 am. The march was stopped by a military checkpoint at the exit from Beit Jala, where soldiers used tear gas and concussion grenades to try and push back the demonstrators. A smaller number of demonstrators managed to reach the bulldozers and disrupt the uprooting for a short while, before being removed from the area.

A military force that invaded Beit Jala following the demonstration clashed with the town's youth, but no arrests or injuries were recorded.

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