From Ma’an News
Mustafa Barghouti, the Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, attended a demonstration in Beit Sahour, near
The official, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, joined protesters, including international activists, at the Oush Ghrab military post, a site known as Shdema to settlers.
Barghouti‘s media officer said Israeli soldiers fired stun grenades and tear-gas canisters at protesters. The lawmaker was reportedly hurt after he clashed with Israeli soldiers and his escort, Yousef Al-Khawaja, was hit in the shoulder when forces opened fire.
Three Palestinians affiliated with the PNI were also hurt, Barghouti‘s media officer said.
An Israeli military spokesman said the army was unfamiliar with the shooting. However, the spokesman also said 50 Palestinians hurled rocks at Israeli forces, who he said responded with "riot-dispersal measures."
During the rally, Barghouti said "resistance against the wall, settlement activities, and ‘apartheid‘ will not stop despite Israeli suppression and violence against popular demonstrations." He applauded the people of Beit Sahour, As-Sawahira, and local popular committees for resisting the wall and settlement activity, and those international activists who joined the demonstration.
The official condemned what he described as an assault against worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, where 16 people were injured the same day. He termed the episode, as well as the recent Israeli cabinet decision to add the