Israeli army injure 14 Palestinians protesters in northern West Bank

By Esat Firat

JERUSALEM (AA) - At least 14 Palestinians protesting illegal Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank were injured by gunfire from Israeli soldiers on Friday, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS).

Protests took place in the Beita district of Nablus province in the West Bank, according to witnesses.

In an attempt to disperse protesters, Israeli security forces used tear gas, rubber and live bullets as demonstrators responded by throwing stones.

The head of the Emergency Unit at the PRCS in Nablus, Ahmad Jibril, told Anadolu Agency that one Palestinian was injured by live bullets and 13 others by rubber bullets.

Dozens of Palestinians were affected by tear gas sprayed by Israeli forces, he added.

Similar protests took place in the Yata district of al-Khalil province, the Beit Dajan district in Nablus province and the Kafr Qaddum district of Qalqilya province.

Palestinians organize marches every Friday against settlements and a separation wall in several villages and towns in the West Bank.

Israeli and Palestinian estimates indicate that there are about 650,000 settlers in West Bank settlements, including occupied Jerusalem, who live in 164 settlements and 116 outposts.

* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara