27 March 1993

Clashes continued into the evening in several areas in the West Bank in the seventh straight day of violent confrontation and protest, following the Israeli government’s decision to begin construction on an illegal Jewish settlement on Abu Ghneim mountain, near Bethlehem. ·

*20 March: Clashes began when a demonstration of university students near Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem turned violent. The Israeli army used tear gas and rubber bullets against the demonstrators, and dozens were injured by tear gas. The village of Beit Omar, between Bethlehem and Hebron, also was the scene of violent confrontation. Demonstrations have been ongoing in this village for the past month following the announcement by the Israeli army that this village would be left out of the next redeployment. This village has been under curfew off and on for most of that time. ·* 21 March: Violent confrontation continued in Bethlehem, with students throwing stones and the Israeli army firing tear gas. Demonstrations and clashes also broke out in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem. In Hebron, violent confrontation begins between demonstrators in the Palestinian Autonomous Area of “H1” and the still Israeli-controlled occupied area of Hebron (“H2”). A large crowd of demonstrators began throwing stones at the illegal Jewish settlement in “H2” in the center of the town. Israeli army imposed a curfew on the Israeli-controlled center. The US, for the second time in two weeks, was the only member of the Security Council to veto a resolution calling on Israel to halt the illegal construction on Abu Ghneim mountain. ·
* 22 March: Large-scale violent confrontation in Hebron, where Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets, tear gas and live ammunition at nearly a thousand stone-throwing demonstrators. Over 100 people, including three journalists, were wounded in this day’s clashes, including 10 in serious condition from bullet wounds. Confrontations continued in Bethlehem near Rachel’s Tomb. ·
* 23 March: Two Palestinians shot and wounded by live ammunition, fired by Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint into Bethlehem. Violent confrontation continues in Hebron and at Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem. ·
* 24 March: More rioting in Bethlehem and Hebron. In Bethlehem, students continued to throw stones at Israeli soldiers at Rachel’s Tomb, and two firebombs were also thrown. In Hebron, demonstrators again marched towards the illegal Jewish settlement in the middle of the town, and Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Two Israeli soldiers and 30 Palestinians were wounded in today’s fighting. ·
* 25 March: Serious riots continued today in Bethlehem, Hebron and other areas. Students continued to demonstrate and throw stones at soldiers near Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem, resulting in 27 injured. In Beit Sahour, a village bordering on Bethlehem, small-scale rioting broke out at the Israeli military checkpoint into this village and Israeli soldiers briefly entered into this Palestinian controlled area. In Hebron, clashes continued near the center of town. Various incidents of stoning were also reported throughout the West Bank, and a petrol bomb was thrown at the Bethlehem by-pass road, prompting the Israeli army to close temporarily the “secured” settler’s road. ·
* 26 March: Confrontations spread to Ramallah today as student demonstrators marched to the Israeli army checkpoint into the city. Some 22 were injured from tear gas and rubber bullets. In Bethlehem, Israeli and American flags were burned and clashes continued at the Rachel’s Tomb area, and another petrol bomb was thrown at a car near the Bethlehem by-pass road. In Beit Sahour confrontations continued, and a petrol bomb was thrown at soldiers. Demonstrations broke out in El Khader village, near Bethlehem, as well. In Hebron, clashes continued near the center of town.

Violence and tension in this area will continue as the desperation and dispossession of the Palestinians grows. The Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, the international community and the Oslo process cannot afford to let this violence continue - violence which comes as a result of the hostile policies of the Israeli government. As the situation becomes increasingly unstable and more difficult to control, LAW again calls urgently on the international community to demand that Israel halt all settlement activity, particularly construction of the illegal settlement on Abu Ghneim mountain.

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.