20 March 1997

Today at 11:30 p.m., a student demonstration at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, called to protest illegal Israeli construction activity on Abu Ghneim mountain, quickly turned violent as students passed Palestinian police barricades and began throwing stones at Israeli soldiers stationed on and near the Tomb. The Israeli army, which has been deployed in force in the Bethlehem region following the controversial decision by the Israeli government to begin construction of the new settlement on Abu Ghneim mountain, returned with rubber bullets and tear gas. As of the writing of this report (2:30 p.m.) the fighting continues.

Reports from witnesses at the scene state that tens of demonstrators have been injured thus far from tear gas, and that it is believed that the Israeli army will bring in water cannons and a stone-throwing machine to quell the resistance. On five separate occasions, the Palestinian police attempted to bring the demonstrators under control, but hundreds of students pushed the police back and have thus far refused to end the confrontation. There has been no exchange of gunfire between Palestinian police and the Israeli army.

Snipers have been deployed in force on the rooftops of buildings lining the main street of Bethlehem near Rachel’s Tomb.

This outbreak of violence is the direct result of simmering Palestinian fury over the Israeli government’s decision to build another illegal Jewish settlement between Bethlehem and Jerusalem. It is imperative that the situation be brought under control before a tragic situation arises like the uprising last September, which ended in the deaths of 63 Palestinians and 15 Israelis. LAW calls on the international community, the Israeli public and all concerned parties to demand an immediate halt to the Israeli construction activity on the disputed mountain, and for the Israeli government to respect the letter and spirit of the Oslo agreements.

LAW - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAW is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.