Israelis arrest nine at West Bank protest

Israeli soldiers today arrested nine international protesters who joined about 100 Palestinians trying to disrupt construction of a security fence near the West Bank town of Tulkarem,

An army spokeswoman said demonstrators scuffled with troops, and threw rocks, but she had no details about the arrests.

Protester Robert Smith said 10 of about 30 activists from the pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement were arrested as they tried to block Israeli bulldozers clearing land to construct a security fence next to the Palestinian village of Jayous.

Israel began building the fence six months ago in an attempt to stop Palestinian militants from crossing into Israel.

The proposed route roughly follows the unmarked border between Israel and the West Bank, but runs east of it in many places, cutting into Palestinian farmland.

Smith, an American, said soldiers threw sound grenades and tear gas at protesters who were blocking access to the area, and then violently dragged protesters away.

At least one of the activists was severely beaten, he said.

Many international protesters arrested by Israeli forces in the West Bank have been deported.