Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

Illegal Israeli settlers, soldiers, beat and detain elderly men, American activist

Date: 13 / 06 / 2009  Time:  15:54
Hebron – Ma’an –

Israeli settlers and military forces assaulted Palestinian farmers and foreign solidarity activists as the latter attempted to enter confiscated Palestinian lands near the Israeli settlement of Beit ‘Ain on Saturday,

The settlement, in the Wadi Abu Al-Reish area near northwest of Beit Ummar in the southern West Bank, has annexed agricultural lands next to the fence surrounding the complex and prevented farmers from harvesting crops in the area. Israeli forces declared the area a “closed military zone” and permanently prevented farmers from entering.

The Palestinian solidarity team has been organizing weekly activities every Saturday aiming to enable Palestinian farmers to access their land.

During the incident settlers pelted farmers, solidarity activists, and their cars with stones, and Israeli soldiers attacked 55-year-old Fahd Sulaibi, beating him brutally before they detained him.

Soldiers also attacked 75-year-old Hammad Sulaibi and detained American activist, Becky Wolf and other several others. All were beaten.

Israeli troops attack Nil'in's weekly protest, dozens injured

Friday June 12, 2009 15:55 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Israeli occupation soldiers attacked Palestinian and international peace activists during the weekly non-violent protest against the wall in Ni'lin village, west of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, on Friday.

Israeli troops during weekly protest in Ni'lin - Photo by M. Vazquez

After the midday prayers the villagers, along with their supporters, marched towards the village lands where Israel is building the wall.

The protesters demanded the halt of the Israeli illegal settlements and the construction of the wall. Among those who took part in the Friday protest was the family of Aqel Sadeq Srour, 36 who was killed by the Israeli soldiers during last week's protest.

As soon as the crowd reached the lands, troops attacked them with tear gas. Scores were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Later Israeli soldiers attacked the protesters with batons, then clashes erupted between local youth and the armed soldiers, no injuries were reported.

Two injured at the Bil'in weekly protest

Friday June 12, 2009 15:29 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Two protesters were injured and dozens suffered from gas inhalation when Israeli troops attacked the weekly protest in Bil'in village near the central West Bank city of Ramallah on Friday afternoon.

Residents of Bil'in and their international and Israelis supporters marched from the village center after the Friday midday prayers. They were joined by 40 members of the American group "Code Pink Women for Peace".

The protesters demanded the halt of the Israeli illegal settlements and the construction of the wall. As the protesters arrived at the wall, Israeli troops at the gate nearby fired a barrage of sound bombs, tear gas and rubber-coated bullets from the Israeli soldiers.

Two protesters were lightly injured, Mustafa Al-Khateeb, 17, and a Britsh activist. Meanwhile scores were treated for the effects of tear gas inhalation.

Israel to impose curfew in Salfit area in expectation of the arrival of thousands of settlers

Friday June 12, 2009 13:13 by Katherine Orwell - 1 of International Middle East Media Center Editorial Group

Thousands of settlers are expected to come to Salfit area, to pray at ancient shrines in the surroundings of the Ariel settlement. In anticipation to their arrival Israeli army troops have set up military posts at the southern entrance of the settlement.

At the same time the soldiers created road barriers and will be blocking all people from using the roads near the settlement, with the exception of local residents. Troops told local Palestinians that live in nearby villages that a curfew will be imposed starting Friday night at ten o'clock.

All these measures are undertaken to provide 'security for settlers'. Two months ago in a similar scenario, around 7,000 Israeli settlers had come to the area.

The settlers ended up attacking Palestinian villages and damaging graves in the village cemetery.

To prevent the settlers from attacking Palestinians, the Palestinians are being put under curfew.

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