The IDF patrols in al-Bireh, 4 villages nr. Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Jericho; enters Ras al-Amud neighborhood in East Jerusalem in the evening, detaining 1 Palestinian teenager for questioning, but releasing him an hr. later; conducts late-night house searches in Kafr Qaddum, summoning 2 Palestinians for questioning. Palestinians (sometimes accompanied by Israeli and international activists) hold weekly nonviolent demonstrations against the separation wall, land confiscations, and settlement expansion in Bayt Umar, Bil‘in, Kafr Qaddum, Ni‘lin, and Nabi Salih. IDF soldiers beat and fire rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at the protesters, lightly injuring 2 Palestinians; 8 Palestinians are arrested. Jewish settlers fr. Esh Kodesh settlement outpost nr. Nablus beat a 15-yr.-old Palestinian shepherd and kill 1 sheep. (PCHR 7/28; OCHA 7/29)
Friday, July 22, 2011