JERUSALEM, March 12, 2010 (WAFA)- This week saw the highest level of Palestinian injuries in a single-week since the first week of July 2008: at least 72 Palestinians were wounded in various incidents; over half sustained injuries in clashes that took place in East Jerusalem. Twenty-one members of the Israeli security forces were also wounded during the week [March3-9], United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.
On March 5, at least 38 Palestinians and, according to Israeli media sources, 20 Israeli police officers, were injured during clashes that erupted at the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. The clashes occurred at Al Aqsa Mosque during a demonstration held by Palestinian worshippers after the Friday prayer, protesting the Israeli cabinet's decision to add the Al Ibrahimi Mosque/Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron and the Bilal Mosque/Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem to the list of Israeli 'national heritage sites'. The clashes involved the firing of rubber-coated metal bullets and tear gas grenades by the police and hurling stones by Palestinian demonstrators towards Israeli forces. According to Israeli media reports, the demonstrators threw stones at the Western Wall plaza below the compound.
Following the confrontations, the Israeli police restricted entrance to the Al Aqsa compound to Palestinians over the age of 50. The clashes later extended to other East Jerusalem areas, including Ras Al Amoud, Issawiyya, Qalandiya checkpoint and Shu'fat refugee camp, during which another six Palestinians and one Israeli border police were injured. At least 20 Palestinians were arrested during the confrontations and the following day. This is the second consecutive week clashes have erupted in and around the Old City of Jerusalem.
An additional 24 Palestinians, including eight boys, were injured during the week in other demonstrations held in the West Bank, in various contexts, including the above mentioned decision on the 'national heritage' sites (eight injuries in Hebron City and Beit Ummar village); the expansion of Hallamish settlement in Ramallah area (11 injuries); and the construction of the Barrier (five injuries in the villages of Beit Jala and Ni'lin). The remaining four injuries occurred during clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces, while the former attempted to stop a group of Israeli settlers from entering the village of Iraq Burin (Nablus).
Israeli forces conducted 108 search operations inside Palestinian towns and villages throughout the week, slightly fewer than the 2010 weekly average of 117; as in previous weeks, the majority of this week's operations took place in the northern West Bank (71).
