Ramallah, 05-01-08: A non-violent demonstration against the Apartheid system enforced by Israel on Road 443, a road accessible for Israelis only which cuts into Palestinian territory, took place today at the village of Kharbatha Al-Mesbah in the West Bank yesterday.
Three hundred peaceful demonstrators - Palestinians, Israelis and internationals together - were violently repressed by the Israeli military. Seven people were injured and an ambulance was repeatedly shot at by Israeli soldiers, despite bearing clear Red Cross and Red Crescent markings.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative denounced the violence of Israeli soldiers, who shot tear gas, sound grenades and rubber coated metal bullets at the peaceful crowd. He explained that "road 443 is a symbol of the Israeli Apartheid imposed on the occupied territories. It is a road for Israelis only, cutting into Palestine and tearing apart Palestinian communities."
Dr. Barghouthi called for wide-scale non-violent actions against the Israeli occupation and for increased international solidarity with Palestinians in their struggle for national liberation.