Clashes erupt between Israeli forces and Palestinians after protester's funeral

2012-02-26 09:23:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

RAMALLAH, West Bank (BNO NEWS) -- At least twelve Palestinians were injured on Saturday during clashes with Israeli soldiers in the northern Jerusalem town of al-Ram, following the funeral of a Palestinian killed on Friday in the West Bank.

Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and rubber-coated bullets to disperse protesters throwing stones and bottles at them. The violence erupted near the eastern entrance to al-Ram after hundreds of mourners buried 25-year-old Talat Ramia, who died in surgery late Friday after Israeli soldiers shot him in the chest during a protest, Ma'an news agency reported.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the protester had fired fireworks at the soldiers. An initial investigation indicated that 20 Palestinians gathered next to the Ramah camp southeast of Ramallah in the West Bank, and threw stones at IDF forces.

The soldiers opened fire at the Palestinians as per military orders. The IDF explained that the youth was hit in the shoulder, and was taken to the hospital in Ramallah where he later died, Haaretz newspaper reported. 



Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said on Saturday that he held the Israeli government "completely responsible" for the incident. "We have already warned all components of the international community, especially the international Quartet, on several occasions of the dangers of maintaining silence while Israel’s violence continues against non-violent protests our people carry out," Ma'an quoted Fayyad's statement as saying.

"While the international community and the Quartet issues statements only, the killing of Palestinians, settlement expansion, land confiscation, house demolitions and settler terrorism among other violations of international law seem to continue," he added.

Tensions have been rising in Jerusalem in recent days. Israeli police on Friday clashed with Palestinian worshippers at Temple Mount in Jerusalem, leaving eleven policemen and fifteen Palestinians wounded.

Police heightened their presence at the site on Friday morning after several violent incidents were reported this week. Light clashes erupted two weeks ago when right-wing leaders called on Jews to visit the Temple Mount, which houses the Al-Aqsa mosque, and cleanse the area of Muslims.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-02-26

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