Security forces broke up violent demonstrations in Abu Dis village and in Ramallah today. A number of arrests were made and the demonstrators were charged with disturbing the peace.
Students at the UNRWA school in Ramallah threw stones and burned tires in a demonstration marking the anniversary of the destruction of the Arab village of Deir Yassin by Irgun forces during Israel’s War of Independence. They were also expressing solidarity with Mayor Kharim Khallaf of Ramallah and Mayor Ibrahim Towil of El-Bireh who went on trial today for allegedly assaulting an Israeli policeman more than a year ago.
Both mayors were acquitted by the magistrate who accepted the testimony of defense witnesses that the defendants did not deliberately strike the policeman but were knocked against him during a fracas in the Supreme Court building.
The demonstration in Abu Dis was staged by students protesting the shutdown the seminary there. They waved Palestinian flags and placards.
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