Ramallah, 15-07-06: Palestinian, Israeli and international anti-wall demonstrators marked the national day of solidarity with communities affected by Israel’s Apartheid Wall today by holding a peaceful rally in the village of Izbat Tabib, against Israeli plans to demolish most of the village’s buildings, including its kindergarten and health centre, in order to construct the Wall.
Groups and individuals participating in the rally included representatives of the Palestinian National Initiative, including General Secretary and Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Mustafa Barghouthi, and Mohammad Aboushe and Salah Khawajeh, as well as PLC member, Walid A-Saf, Jamal Juma’ of the Stop the Wall Campaign, Latif Duri of the Palestine-Israel Negotiating Committee, and Rafiq Maraba’ of the National Committee Against the Wall.
The peaceful demonstration was broken up by the Israeli military, who fired tear gas and sound bombs at protestors. Despite this, demonstrators were able to march to the entrance of the village, and to remove earth mounds put in place by the Israeli military to prevent the movement of vehicles.
As of July 2006, 51% of the West Bank Barrier construction has been completed (362 km), 13% is under construction (88 km) and 36% remains marked as planned (253 km). The total length of the new route has increased by 33 km, from 670 km to 703 km. Because of its meandering path into the West Bank, the length is more than twice the length of the “Green Line.” Only 20% of the Barrier’s length runs along the Green Line, with the remaining 80% cutting into Palestinian lands. [1]