Weekly protests across West Bank

Dozens of Palestinians on Friday demonstrated throughout the occupied West Bank against Israel's wall and settlements on Palestinian land. In al-Maasara, near Bethlehem, the march focused on water inequality as demonstrators protested Israeli exploitation of West Bank resources. Israeli forces fired tear gas at protesters. “Palestinians suffer from water theft in camps, cities, and villages,” popular struggle coordinator Hassan Brejeya said. “Settlers in the West Bank use this water, which shows the racist face of the occupation.” Other activists called for the international community to intervene and stop Israeli actions that deprive the people of the West Bank from the necessary quantity of water. Dozens suffered tear-gas inhalation in Bilin, near Ramallah, where residents and supporters held a weekly protest against settlements, the wall and confiscation of land. Israeli forces fired rubber-coated steel bullets, tear gas, and stun grenades at protesters near the wall. Activists emphasized the importance of such protests to stop settlement activity and land confiscation. In Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah, demonstrators marched in support of Jordanian prisoners in Israeli jails on hunger strike. Soldiers fired tear-gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, and used water canons to disperse protesters. Dozens suffered tear-gas inhalation.