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23 Oct, 2015

Israeli Army Installs Concrete Roadblocks at Bethlehem Northern Entrance

BETHLEHEM, October 22, 2015 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Thursday afternoon installed cement roadblocks at the northern entrance of Bethlehem, said security sources.

Israeli forces reportedly installed concrete roadblocks at the sidewalks of Jerusalem-Bethlehem Main Road in the vicinity of Jacir Palace and Paradise hotels at the northern entrance of the city, obstructing Palestinian locals’ movement.

Forces also installed other concrete roadblocks in the vicinity of Checkpoint 300 and near Bilal Ibn Rabah’s Mosque turning away passengers and diverting traffic (passport holders, Palestinians with hospital permits) to travel to Jerusalem via the Beit Jala tunnels checkpoint.

The area has been a scene of ongoing clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces which plan to use the roadblocks for opening fire on demonstrators.

Clashes broke out near the illegal separation wall at the northern entrance of Bethlehem nearly on a daily basis about a week earlier amidst ongoing clashes throughout the rest of occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.

Forces have frequently opened live ammunition, rubber coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters at Palestinians demonstrating in this area, hitting and injuring many demonstrators and causing many others to suffer from tear gas suffocation.

This came a day after two Palestinian young men sustained injuries after being hit with rubber-coated steel bullets and at least five others suffocated during clashes.