Clashes between Palestinians demonstrating against Israeli colonization and Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Friday (July 23), leaving nearly 150 Palestinians injured, the majority by tear gas, rescue workers said.
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Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in the afternoon in the locality of Beita, a hot spot in recent months, to protest against the wild colony of Eviatar, located nearby, noted an AFP photographer who saw many injured.
“
In the last few hours, a riot has been staged near the Givat Eviatar outpost, south of Nablus.
Hundreds of Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with riot control means
, ”the IDF told AFP.
Two wounded in the ranks of the army
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported 146 injured among the demonstrators, including nine hit by live ammunition, 34 by rubber bullets and more than 80 by tear gas.
The army has confirmed two minor injuries in its ranks who were taken to hospital.
Israeli settlers settled in early May on a hill near Nablus in order to found the wild colony of Eviatar, without obtaining permission from the Israeli government.
After several weeks of clashes and tensions, an agreement was reached with the settlers of Eviatar who evacuated the scene but left their mobile homes, while the Israeli Ministry of Defense reviewed the property rights of the land in order to to determine whether they can be considered Israeli.
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If the ministry rules in favor of the colonists, the latter will then be authorized to establish themselves in a more lasting way.
In the meantime, the Israeli army maintains its presence at the scene.
The settlement reached with the settlers was rejected by the mayor of Beita who said "
clashes and demonstrations will continue
" as long as Israelis "
remain on our land
".
The West Bank is a Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 by Israel and all Israeli settlements there are considered illegal under international law.
More than 470,000 people now live in Israeli settlements in the West Bank.