by, Yoav Stern
Haaretz Correspondent
See the story online at: www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/603111.html
Five people were lightly hurt and five others were detained for questioning during a a demonstration against the West Bank security fence in the village of Bil’in, adjacent to Ramallah, on Friday.
Hundreds of Israeli, Palestinian and foreign protestors took part in the demonstration. According to the demonstrators, Israel Defense Forces troops and Border Policemen sprayed tear gas and fired rubber bullets at them.
Protests have been held in Bil’in for several months to protest the construction of the separation fence on village land. Once completed, the fence will cut village residents off from their fields.
Every Friday, village residents protest, along with left-wing Israeli activists, Arab MKs and members of the Palestinian parliament. Hamas militants, headed by Hassan Yousef, have taken part in the demonstrations, alongside Israelis.
MK Barakeh receives summons over alleged protest violence
MK Mohammed Barakeh (Hadash-Ta’al) received a summons on Thursday requesting him to show up at the Binyamin police department’s offices to face allegations that he assault a border police officer.
The alleged attack took place at an anti-fence protest outside Bil’in in April.
Sources close to Barakeh said that they have video footage clearly showing it was Barakeh was assaulted by the border police officer, and not vice versa.
Barakeh said that he would not abide by the summons that was handed to him by the Knesset Speaker’s office because the Binyamin police department is situated in the occupied territories.
“If anyone wants to question me they are invited to do so in my office in Nazareth,” said Barakeh defiantly. When summoned to be questioned by police, lawmakers are usually allowed to ask police to question them at their chambers.
“Every week we bear witness to yet another violent attack by the security forces at the village of Bil’in,” said Barakeh. “The victims are not just Palestinians but also the peace activists who are non-violently demonstrating against the racist separation fence. We’ve all seen this week just how differently security forces treated the violent protests of the right (at Kfar Maimon).”