Eleven wounded in West Bank barrier protest

Israeli troops yesterday shot and wounded at least 10 Palestinians and one Israeli involved in a protest at a construction site for Israel's controversial barrier in the West Bank, a witness said.

Military sources said one border policeman was lightly wounded after protesters threw stones and interrupted building work on the barrier. They said soldiers used "non-lethal means" to disperse the protesters and did not use live ammunition.

The incident, outside the Palestinian village of Budrus near Ramallah, was the second time in five days that the army fired at demonstrators gathered by the barrier. On December 26, troops shot and wounded a young Israeli and an American with live fire.

Jonathan Pollak, a member of the Israeli Anarchists against the Wall group, said soldiers fired towards around 500 Palestinian, Israeli and foreign protesters near bulldozers turning over ground for an extension of the barrier.

He said 10 Palestinians were hit and taken to hospital while an Israeli woman was slightly wounded in the leg.

Ted Querbath, a foreign protester from New York, told Reuters:

"I saw six people who were wounded when the army started shooting rubber bullets and tear gas. A Palestinian woman was severely beaten up and bleeding on her head."

Querbath said three Israelis, two Swedes and an American were among those arrested. Protesters involved in the lengthy demonstration blocked army vehicles and chanted "God is greatest" before being sprayed by tear gas.

Palestinian medics said 20 Palestinians were hit by rubber bullets and taken to hospital while an Israeli woman was slightly wounded in the leg.

Israel's vast barrier cuts off land from West Bank territory Palestinians see as part of a future state. Israel says the barrier is needed to keep out suicide bombers.

Pollak said the foreign protesters included members of the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement and the International Women's Peace Service group.

- REUTERS