A meeting of Israeli and Palestinian representatives yesterday, Tuesday July 8, followed violent demonstrations and four consecutive days of curfew in the Palestinian village Ni'lin west to Ramallah. The curfew was lifted and the Palestinian representatives committed to keep the demonstrations non-violent.
To protest against the West Bank Barrier, Ni'lin residents held demonstrations, which according to Israel Defense Forces personnel (IDF), have turned into violent riots.
According to IDF, clashes with local residents have developed, during which IDF soldiers, Israeli policemen and civilian workers have been injured. Several Palestinian residents were also injured, according to a Palestinian news agency reports.
Following the clashes, Israel has put the village on curfew for four days. Yesterday, after a meeting between IDF officers and senior Palestinian Fatah representatives from the village, IDF has ended the curfew and removed the security perimeter imposed on the village.
In the meeting, the Palestinians committed to refrain from demonstrating for the rest of the day, and to ensure that future demonstrations remain non-violent, according to IDF. IDF will refrain from imposing similar restrictions as long as the agreement is followed.
The West Bank Barrier is a controversial project constructed by Israel, consisting of a network of fences with vehicle-barrier trenches. Supporters claim that the barrier is necessary for protecting Israeli civilians from Palestinian terrorism, including suicide bombers, and that it has significantly reduced incidents of terrorism.
Opponents claim that the barrier has the intent, or the effect, of predetermining the Israeli-Palestinian border before negotiations have ended, and that it severely restricts Palestinians who live nearby.
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