Palestinian National Initiative Secretary-General Mustafa Barghouthi called the West Bank-wide dedication of protest rallies to the Mavi Marmara dead an indication of national unity when he addressed a protest Friday.
“All of the weekly rallies that are carried in all of the villages; Bil‘in, Ni‘lin, Al-Ma‘sara, Jurat Ash-Sham’ah, Iraq Burin and along road 443 were dedicated to the denunciation of the Israeli massacre aboard the ships of the Freedom Flotilla," Barghouthi told protesters in Bil‘in.
He called the uncoordinated move a "confirmation of the unity of popular resistance" against the Israeli sanctions imposed on Palestinians.
In an event delayed to one week after Israel was compelled to open the formerly settler-only road running through the West Bank, Highway 443, hundreds were said to have broken through parts of the fence erected by Israeli forces along the road, and were met with tear-gas canisters fired by Israeli forces.
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While no injuries were reported along the stretch of highway, one man was lightly injured in Ni’lin, organizers said, and dozens of others choked on tear gas when soldiers fired on the protest as demonstrators marched toward lands confiscated by
In Bil‘in, Barghouthi joined villagers in a march to the separation wall after Friday prayers were concluded, giving a speech that was interrupted by the launch of what Israeli officials describe as riot dispersal mechanisms, including tear-gas canisters and rubber coated bullets.