Israel extends closure of West Bank and attacks women and youth

Israel extends closure of West Bank
Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:54:21 GMT


Following a restriction on al-Aqsa mosque compound (Temple Mount), Israel has extended the closure on the occupied West Bank to avoid tensions erupting over plans to build new housing units in East Jerusalem al-Quds.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak extended the lockdown, previously due to end Saturday night, to the following Tuesday at midnight, AFP reported Sunday.

On Friday, Israel's military forces sealed off the West Bank after the interior ministry announced plans to build 1,600 new homes for settlers in al-Quds.

In a statement, the military said people needing to pass for humanitarian reasons, medical workers and patients, religious workers, teachers and other professionals would be permitted to cross subject to Israeli authorization.

Citing security reasons for shutting the main checkpoints in the territory, the military also said access to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem al-Quds would be restricted to men under 50 on Sunday.

On Saturday, the troops clashed with Palestinian residents who protested against the settlement plan.

Israel has imposed restrictions on the holy compound since March 5 when police encountered Palestinian protesters at the mosque after weekly prayers.

According to military spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, police reinforcements deployed around the area amid the tensions in the city will remain in place.

Israel seized al-Quds along with the West Bank in the Six Day War of 1967 and later annexed it in defiance of international law.

Israeli troops have attacked protesting Palestinian women and youth in the occupied West Bank, injuring six of the demonstrators, say reports.

The attack wounded four women and two youths among the crowd of roughly-200-strong Palestinians who had gathered at the Qalandiya crossing in Jerusalem (al-Quds) in protest at Tel Aviv's planned settlement expansion, AFP reported.

Four people were also placed under Israeli arrest, the agency added.

The Israel interior ministry recently approved the construction of 1,600 housing units for Jewish settlers in Jerusalem (al-Quds).

The announcement prompted bitter condemnations from sections of the international community.

The demonstrators also demanded that occupied East Jerusalem (al-Quds) be the capital of their future state.