Israel blockaded a Palestinian village in response to violent protests against the West Bank security fence.
Troops deployed around Naaleen, a village west of Ramallah, over the weekend after it was declared a
“closed military zone” by Israeli authorities.
The move followed increasingly violent demonstrations by villagers and their supporters from Israel and
abroad against the West Bank security fence, which is going up nearby.
At least three Israeli policemen were hurt in the protests, as well as dozens of demonstrators.
Palestinians say the fence prejudges any future border with Israel and illegally takes in privately owned farmland.
Israel has rerouted the fence in some places to lessen Palestinian hardship, but has also pressed ahead
with the project, saying it has a proven worth in stopping terrorist infiltrations.
Until further notice, Israeli forces were under orders to stop outsiders from reaching Naaleen, of for villagers to leave and take part in anti-fence protests.
