Picture Credit: Ann Paq/Activestills

Residents of Al-Ma'asara village, near Bethlehem, have been demonstrating for the past five years against the Wall that is planned to encircle the village. This week, residents were informed of the construction of new gate at the entrance of the village, which will prevent passage to the main road to Bethlehem and Hebron. The new gate is part of the recommencement of the construction of the Wall in this area, which ceased in 2008 after an Israeli court ruling. If completed, the Wall will expropriate Palestinian privately owned agricultural land and will result in the closure of the main road that links Al-Ma’asara to nearby cities in the West Bank. Residents are currently gathering objections for a court case against this decision.

Picture Credit: Ann Paq/Activestills 

Dozens joined the demonstration this week. Marching from the center of the village towards the main road, the demonstration was stopped by the Israeli soldiers who closed the main entrance to the village, preventing the protesters to reach the lands which had been grabbed for the building of the Wall. Israeli soldiers pushed back violently some protesters who attempted to pass their line. After some speeches the demonstrators ended the protest without further confrontation.