Israel renews Wall construction in Salfit district; Curfew in Salem

1. Israel renews Wall construction in Salfit district
2. Curfew and closure in Salem, Nablus District
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1. Israel renews Wall construction in Salfit district
Friday prayer held in Deir Ballut to protest land destruction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Friday March 4 at 10am, Palestinians from in the southwest Salfit
district will hold Friday prayers in Deir Ballut to protest the
construction of the Wall on their land. The Popular Committee against
the Wall in Salfit invites Palestinians, Israelis, internationals and
the media to support and witness their struggle against the theft and
destruction of their land.

In June 2004 when construction of the Wall began in the southwestern
Salfit region, Deir Ballut and the surrounding villages held daily
nonviolent demonstrations to prevent the Israeli military from
uprooting trees and destroying their land. This popular resistance
combined with the International Court of Justice ruling on the
illegality of the Wall culminated in an Israeli High Court decision to
stop construction of the Wall in the Salfit district for four
consecutive months.

On February 20 the Israeli government approved a revised route of the
Wall. Israeli bulldozers have returned to Deir Ballut and have resumed
construction of the Wall. Friday's demonstration will leave from the
partially constructed new school in Deir Ballut. Construction of the
school was halted because of its location in the original path of the
Wall.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Nasfat – 059.841.006 or 052.233.7257
ISM Media – 054.632.6392

END
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2. Curfew and closure in Salem, Nablus District

The village of Salem, south of Nablus, is currently under military
closure and curfew after Israeli troops entered the village Tuesday
night. Israeli army and border police jeeps have been stationed on the
roads between Salem and Nablus and have been preventing people from
entering or leaving the area. A local contact reported that the army
fired tear gas at people who tried to leave the village to go to work
this morning.

The village itself is under curfew. The school and the shops are
closed, and Israeli army jeeps are patrolling the streets. There is no
information about the reason for the curfew and closure of Salem or
for how long the occupation forces intend to inflict this abuse.

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