November 6, 2009

In the West Bank, Palestinian activists in a number of locations along the separation wall protest in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. In Ni‘lin, Palestinian protesters also attempt to pull down sections of the separation wall but are dispersed by rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas fired by IDF troops; 5 protesters are wounded, and 10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation. The IDF also closes the entrance to al-Ma‘sara, fires rubber-coated steel bullets and sound bombs, violently beats a number of Palestinian and international activists taking part in a nonviolent demonstration against the separation wall there (injuring 2 Palestinians under the age of 13); fires rubber-coated steel bullets, sound bombs, tear gas at Palestinian activists, some of whom throw stones at IDF troops, taking part in a demonstration against the separation wall in Bil‘in (10s suffer fr. tear gas inhalation). The IDF also conducts late-night raids, house searches nr. Bethlehem but makes no arrests. (MNA 11/9; OCHA, PCHR, WJW 11/12; OCHA 11/17)