Palestinians protest against West Bank barrier

Thousands of Palestinians staged protests against Israel’s West Bank barrier today just two days before the start of world court hearings on the legality of the structure.

In one of the largest public outpourings of anger over the barrier, Palestinians across the West Bank fired guns in the air and shouted anti-barrier chants – the first of several protests planned to coincide with the opening of hearings on Monday at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.

Tomorrow, Israeli workers are to begin removing a part of the barrier – about 5 miles of fencing, razor wire and trenches – that has isolated the Palestinian town of Baka al-Sharkia from the rest of the West Bank for more than a year, Defence Ministry spokeswoman Rachel Niedak-Ashkenazi said.

That section of fence is to be removed now that workers have completed a series of concrete walls and fences separating the town’s western side from Israel, she said. A gate will allow passage to a “sister” town, Baka al-Gharbia, just inside the boundary with Israel.

“Since there is no intention to annex land or annex Palestinians to Israel, we are removing this part of the fence,” Niedak-Ashkenazi said.

The move appeared aimed at softening international criticism of Israel ahead of the world court hearings. Israel has come under increasing pressure – even domestic legal challenges – to reroute the barrier, which dips deep into the West Bank in places.

The complex of walls, fences, razor wire and watchtowers has become one of the most contentious issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel says the barrier is needed to stop suicide bombers and other attackers from entering Israeli towns and cities.

Palestinians are outraged because parts of the barrier that cut into the West Bank disrupt the lives of thousands. They also worry it will make it impossible to build an independent Palestinian state on the territory.

Construction of the barrier began more than a year ago and about a third of its eventual 450 miles is complete.

In later stages of the project, the barrier complex is to cut even deeper into the West Bank to wrap around Jewish settlements. That would separate thousands more Palestinians from their farmland, schools and jobs.

The largest Palestinian demonstration was in the city of Nablus, where 2,000 people, including dozens of gunmen in black ski masks, marched through the streets.

The noisy display was punctuated by the rattle of gunshots fired into the air.

In the West Bank towns of Ramallah and Jenin, hundreds of people, including women and children, carried banners with slogans against the barrier.

Near Qalqiliya, a Palestinian town that sits on the boundary with Israel and is surrounded by walls and fences, about 1,000 people protested. “Peace without the wall,” some shouted.

Palestinians are planning several demonstrations and general strikes Monday as a backdrop to the opening of The Hague proceedings. Church bells will be rung and sirens sounded across the Palestinian territories as a moment of silence is observed.