Popular Struggle Coordination Committee
6 March 2010
Demonstrators protesting the deceleration of the Cave of the Patriarchs and Joseph’s Tomb as Israeli heritage sites, manged to block the main road from Jerusalem to Hebron.
In response to the inclusion of the two holy sites in the list of Israeli heritage sites, and fearing that this step paves the way for the cementing of Israeli hold over these places, a demonstration called by the Beit Omar National Committee managed to occupy Route 60 – the main road between Jerusalem and Hebron – and stop all movement in it.
A military checkpoint at the entrance of Beit Ummar control access to Route 60, which, on the vicinity of the village, is fenced off. As demonstrators descended from the village, they toppled the fence between the village and the road. Protesters then continued to gather on Route 60, waving flags and chanting slogans.
Despite the peaceful nature of the demonstration, the soldiers immediately started pushing people violently and using stun grenades, injuring one person. The soldiers then continued to invade the village, which provoked clashes that resulted in the injury of three Palestinians.