Israeli troops launched teargas grenades at Palestinian protestors along Israel's West Bank 'security wall' today. Protests for and against the controversial barrier were held to coincide with the hearings into the legality of the construction at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Thousands of Palestinians marched in Qualqilya and Bethlehem in protest at the wall they consider to be an attempt by Israel to seize more Palestinian land.
Violence broke out at one demonstration when Israeli soldiers used teargas to force protesters back from the vicinity of a section of razor-tipped fence running past the village of Deir Ghsun, near Tulkarm.
Scores were overcome by inhalation and dropped to the ground, while others threw stones at soldiers.
Israeli military sources claimed several hundred Palestinians shook the fence and threw projectiles at soldiers. "We reacted with non-lethal means and have received no reports of casualties," said one source.
Three protesters were injured when clashes erupted at Rachel's Tomb, a Jewish shrine in Bethlehem that Israel plans to enclose within the barrier.
A further 15 protesters were injured at Qalqilya, where at least 5,000 demonstrators rallied against the eight-metre wall that encircles their city.
Meanwhile, hundreds of pro-Israeli protesters rallied outside the World Court, chanting prayers, waving Israeli flags and banners reading "Stop terrorism, start negotiation" and "When terrorism stops, the fence falls".
They bore a montage of colour photos of hundreds of suicide bombing victims. The skeleton of a Jerusalem bus shredded in a January 29 suicide bombing was exhibited outside the court.
"We have to keep the murderers away from the people who want to make a decent living," said Carrie Devorah, 41, a sister of one of the 11 dead in that attack.
Police barricades kept the pro-Israeli crowd apart from a few hundred Palestinian demonstrators and European supporters who cried, "The wall must fall" and "No justice, no peace".
Riot police stood nearby but there were no disturbances.